UK recruiters see huge rise in demand for IT staff

Demand for IT and computing employees rose significantly over the past year to reach the highest levels of permanent IT employment over the decade, according to a report published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG.

The findings, entitled Report on Jobs, showed that the percentage of IT staff employed on a permanent basis had risen to 65.7 in 2009, up from 32.8 in 2008. Temporary and contract employment rates also rose, from 35.1 in 2008 to 58.5 in 2009.

Jeff Brooks, chairman of the REC technology sector group, argued that the figures are very heartening and show that companies continue to see the benefits of investing in IT infrastructure, even during the downturn.

"We had seen a rise in the third quarter of last year in the number of advertisements for IT staff, both permanent and contract, so were not surprised to see the trend continue. But it's pleasing to see it reach such high levels," he said.

Brooks expects to see further investment in IT in 2010 in the private sector, but noted that election uncertainty could see public sector contract work fall off, and employment rates could decline towards the back end of the year.

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