IT temps look for more cash

Freelancers expecting more work, and more money this year

IT chiefs could face higher wage bills for contract work this year, as the majority of IT freelancers expect fewer gaps between periods of employment and increases in their earnings.

According to a study released by contractor specialist Giant Group this month, almost three quarters of IT freelancers predict their pay packets will rise over the next 12 months, indicating a raised level of confidence in the technology sector. This compares to not much over half of respondents expecting increased earnings when the firm carried out a similar study in 2004.

Furthermore, only three percent of the 2,500 respondents foresee a fall in pay, compared to 20 percent two years ago.

The brighter outlook could be attributed in part to temporary workers facing fewer gaps in employment. Only three percent currently go more than 90 days before finding a new project, compared to 13 percent in 2004.

Matthew Brown, managing director at Giant, said that the government’s push to improve public services, which involved a great deal of focus on the online aspect, along with a resurgence in the city have both had a positive impact on the outlook for IT contractors. “The rise in merger and acquisition activity has meant more demand for IT workers to help merge the two parties’ systems, for example,” he added.

Brown also pointed out that in certain cases, the public and private sectors are competing for the same contactors, meaning less time out of work and the knock-on effect of workers looking for higher salaries. “Organisations are also undertaking lots of project work and are realising that flexibility is a good thing,” he added.