A recent quarterly report by E-Skills confirms that demand continues to thrive for ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) staff in the final quarter of 2004.
Summary
We provide a summary of the findings below. The full report can be obtained on the E-Skills website.
- ICT Market has continued to thrive in Q4, 2004
- Demand for permanent and contract staff rose for the 6th consecutive quarter.
- Demand for permanent staff increased 22% and contractors 12% since the previous quarter.
- Demand for contractors at highest level since data first collected in 2001.
- Despite increases for last 5 quarters, employers having little difficulty hiring staff.
- Unemployment rates amongst ICT workers fell to 2%. Number of ICT staff seeking new jobs also fell to the lowest number since Q1.2003
- Published vacanies increased by 20% over the previous quarter.
- 1 in 10 firms surveyed said they would expanding ICT workforce during next 3 months.
Agency statistics
A focus on the way in which firms seek to recruit ICT staff showed the following:
- Using agents to source positions was the second favourite route over 'word of mouth' and considered almost equally effective.
- The most important factor for future employers was the quality of the hire, with price/cost being 4th on the list.
Provisional figures for the Q1, 2005 review indicate that employers expect recruitment of staff to become easier in Q1-Q2 2005.
According to EITO, firms are favouring a move away from cost cutting to delivering competitive advantage to the firm.