The number of vacancies in IT has grown for the first
time since January 2008, with a 1% increase in the third quarter
compared with the previous quarter.But the upturn needs to be
treated with caution. Vacancies are still down 29.3% from
thestart of 2009, and a massive 49.3%
since this time last year.
The latest Salary Services Limited (SSL)/Computer Weekly IT
salary survey also found that the majority of IT recruitment is now
internet-based, with print advertising restricted to more senior
positions.
The 1% increase in permanent jobs is led by an upturn in demand
for developers. There were 25,133 advertisements placed in the
third quarter, compared with 23,324 in the second quarter.
Development jobs, along with programming jobs, account for 39% of
all vacancies advertised, so the figures are a fairly good
indication of what will happen in the market as a whole.
There are further reasons for optimism in the figures for
software houses and the finance sector, which experienced increases
of 1% and 2% respectively. Combined, the two sectors account for
79% of the IT recruitment market.
Much of the boost to IT recruitment comes from the contractor
market. George Molyneaux, recruitment research director at SSL,
says, "Software houses and the banking sectors were the first to
reduce IT staffing levels, with perhaps an over-emphasis on
cancelling projects and the associated development teams. The
effect of this has been an almost immediate rebound in demand for
contract development staff during the past three months."
But it is not good news everywhere. Most job categories saw a
slight decrease in vacancies, and some sectors - media, retail and
manufacturing - are still falling. It is also worth noting that
recruitment levels are currently down 61% down on the peak times of
two years ago. But the
positive signs glimpsed
last quarter seem to be continuing.
