Demand for both contract and permanent IT & computing workers rose sharply in July, according to the latest Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs. This was against a backdrop of improving labour marketing conditions for Scotland, although Bank of Scotland Chief Economist Donald MacRae warned that worker demand will be difficult to sustain following “concerns over sovereign debt in the Eurozone and slowing growth in the USA”.
Despite these warnings, IT contractors experienced a “sharp” increase in demand for their services and topped the demand tables. MacRae says: “The number of both long- and short-term job vacancies increased markedly in July, with the rate of vacancy growth rising to a three-month high.”
Demand for both contractors and permanent employees was particularly strong in Aberdeen, with recruiters warning of skills shortages emerging in Dundee. Both cities have strong contracting sectors in oil and gas and IT respectively.
Contractor rates have also continued to rise for the tenth consecutive month, but at a slower pace compared to June’s figures. Edinburgh saw the greatest increase in contracting rates in July. Salaries for permanent employees increased too, and at a stronger rate than compared to the UK as a whole.
More contractors appear to be in the market for work, as the number of people seeking contracts in Scotland increased in July, compared to June. This increase in available talent has slowed, however, with 23% of recruiters reporting growing numbers of available contractors, versus 21% reporting contractor availability in decline. In contrast, the rest of the UK saw contractor availability rise to a five-month high.
Published: Monday, August 15, 2011
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