Confidence is soaring when it comes to the UK’s IT contractors, or at least if a new report on the subject is to believed.
The mark of an optimist has always been looking at a glass of water and saying that “that’s not half-empty – it’s half-full.” It’s seeing the silver lining instead of the cloud that’s the mark of someone who isn’t always gloomy and quite frankly more than a bit boorish, and it can make your life so much better if you’re an optimist.
Well, there’s a whole class of freelance IT workers and umbrella company contractors that says those working in the information technology field have been developing an incredibly positive mental outlook for years. What’s causing this confidence? Well it’s easy: IT contractors are pulling down work at an amazing rate, with more than 82 per cent of survey respondents indicating that it’s less than a month between the end of one of their assignments and the beginning of the next one.
Is it any wonder if IT contractors in the UK are in such a good mood? Nothing succeeds like success, and they’re succeeding at a masterful level. The speed in which the average contractor pulls down his or her next job is increasing by leaps and bounds, which means there’s more money flowing into the bank accounts of these individuals – and more flowing back out as they purchase goods and services for them, their friends, and their family members.
Yes someone could easily say that contractors are busier than ever now because of the skills shortage gripping the UK, but that’s not exactly taking the optimist’s approach now is it? For what it’s worth, I’d much rather have a glass half-full than half-empty; if there’s a skills shortage we as a collective trade industry will be able to counteract it somehow or another, most likely through a judicious application of funds towards increasing education programmes designed to instill the required skills in younger Brits approaching the age of employment. Conversely we could begin taking on more apprenticeships as well, which would also provide on-the-job training for many Brits just hoping to get their chance to learn these skills as well.
Any way you slice it, I think the future looks bright. We just can’t lose sight of the positive things coming down the pike and we should be just fine, don’t you agree?
