New figures released this week by Jobsadwatch made very interesting reading for IT umbrella contractors, with over 25% more IT contracts becoming available in the last quarter of 2011 when compared to the same time frame in 2010. Financial institutions and software development houses led the way in this growth, showing a 5.1% increase when compared to Q3 of 2011. So when you compare this to the same figures for permanent staff 0 with demand growing at just 1.5% it’s easy to see why contractors who work through umbrella companies have reason to be optimistic for 2012. What’s more, according to Jobsadwatch, IT contract staff were more lightly sought after than permanent counterparts across six of seven business sectors that were monitored!

Commenting on these findings, Sid Barnes, Executive Director of Computer People, said, “Contract employment has fared better in 2011. We have seen this pattern for two main reasons. Firstly, there has been an increase in the number of candidates opting to contract as a lifestyle choice providing them with flexibility in the hopes of gaining better work life balance. Secondly, hiring managers are more inclined to bring on contractors as they are not a fixed cost and are usually budgeted for within project line budgets.” He also added that employers gain ‘experience in change and project management’ as an extra benefit of working with IT umbrella contractors, two skills which are both currently much sought after. So contractors with these specific skills who work through umbrella companies will be in even higher demand.