Statistics from tech contracting service RoleConnect.com reveal that IT contract roles are seeing significant growth in Ireland, reflecting a shift towards contract employment in the UK and US.
Research from RoleConnect.com has shown that, in Ireland, the percentage of contract jobs has increased from 8pc in 2009 to 29pc in 2011, and company founder Kieran Logan believes a seismic shift towards contracting is taking place in the tech sector, which can’t be ignored.
“Our most recent skills index reveals that Java, .Net, PHP, Symphony and tech support is in strong demand right now,” said Logan. A survey of 300 IT contractors hired via the service also showed they were earning 37pc more.
Shift toward contract workers and freelancers
It is expected that half the US workforce will be contract workers by 2020, while figures from the UK’s Office of National Statistics revealed that the number of people becoming self-employed contractors and freelancers rose by almost 90,000 in the first quarter of 2012 – the highest figure since these records began 20 years ago.
“Permanent IT workers need to realise that they can’t guarantee their futures,” said Logan. “Contractors, on the other hand, enjoy control over their careers. They can choose what technologies they want to work with, what companies they want to work for and the locations where they want to be. Working independently on a contract basis is the future of IT work. All IT professionals in permanent roles need to realise this now.”
IT image via Shutterstock
