The year has started with many people feeling rather pesimistic about the years prospects, but after last year, things should improve.
The PCG has vowed to continue the struggle to get IR35 amended and they feel that with enough support small business in the UK can flourish.
A concern with many IT managers is that there are going to be far more cases of employment status decisions to be made now that IR35 is cast in stone. This should actually not be a major concern to business as most employees and agencies should certainly have been through their employees and made sure that each persons status had been assessed a good while back!
The start of the Euro has also got many people thinking about possible opportunities abroad and as the year goes on I feel that the strength or weakness of the Euro will have a telling effort on the whole skill shortage issue in the UK.
The skills shortages issue is also going to be a very contentious issue this year it seems and there are whispers of possible abuse as far as the whole fast track visa system and generally the skills shortage figures as a whole.