According to a new report, IT worker demand remained strong throughout July despite an otherwise less-than-rosy employment outlook.
Skilled IT engineers and contractors were precious commodities over the last month, especially in the defence and public sector even as the marketing, construction, and management consultancy sectors indicated lowered demand levels. This was rather odd, considering how the Government has been rather keen to tighten its belt by eliminating roles for both permanent workers and freelancers, yet umbrella service companies nevertheless reported an increase in the number of IT freelancers employed through July by a myriad of government agencies.
Still, the overall outlook for the economy remains glum as the eurozone crisis seems to rage out of control, with the financial woes of countries across the Channel playing havoc with business growth here at home. The financial services sector has been hit particularly hard, especially in the wake of the Barclays Libor scandal that saw both the banking group’s chief executive and chairman resigning in disgrace.
Recruitment is still down overall, according to Julian Acquri, managing director for Monster UK & Ireland. Despite the employment doldrums, Mr Acquari did note that there are a few bright spots such as the IT sector, but these are more often than not completely counterbalanced by the slumps in nearly every other major industry.
The insurance, finance, and banking sectors underwent an overall 13 per cent drop in demand. However, analysts are cautiously optimistic about the renewed demand from the public sector. Overall demand across banking, finance and insurance fell by 13 per cent, but a beacon of light has come from the fact that opportunities have risen in the public sector, though there’s a lot of understandable reticence in relying upon the Government to get anything right, let alone the economic recovery.
