The number of job vacancies for IT professionals has surged in the past three months, signalling the end of a four-year downturn, according to research from market analysts SSL and Personnel Today’s sister magazine, Computer Weekly.
The number of permanent jobs advertised rose by 33 per cent from 73,160 to 97,531 during the past quarter – an 83 per cent increase in demand compared with a year ago, the latest Quarterly Survey of Appointments Data and Trends reveals.
Demand for contractors has increased by 50 per cent over the past three months and by 81 per cent since the start of the year.
The upturn is pushing up salaries, which have risen by an average of 4.3 per cent for permanent staff – the highest increase since the Y2K boom. Contractors’ pay rates rose by an average of 6.7 per cent.
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The financial sector is leading the recovery, with demand for IT staff rising by 52 per cent in the third quarter of 2004.
All areas of the UK saw substantial growth. Scotland and Northern Ireland saw smaller rises, but the number of jobs has still risen by 66 per cent year-on-year.
