Business is booming for many contractors, but there’s one sector set to explode: the professional services sector is primed for a huge uptick in demand.
Well, that’s what the Confederation of British Industry says anyway. The industry trade body says that, according to its own research, professional services such as marketing, legal services, and finance-related fields are going to be in ridiculously high demand – something that freelancers and umbrella service contractors working in these fields will be surely glad to hear.
So what’s the root cause behind this boom that’s supposedly just round the corner? Well, the CBI says that Q2 2013 saw a net increase of 20 per cent when it came to the number of firms experiencing growth. This is a major accomplishment, considering that the number of firms that ended up doing poorly in the second quarter were subtracted first.
Not only is business booming for these firms but confidence remains high that things are going to stay that way for at least through the next quarter. More than one out of every firms indicated they firmly believed things are going to keep getting better, which is a pleasant change from the economic doldrums much of the UK industry sectors have been weathering for what seems like ages if you ask me.
The end result for any contract worker or freelancer specialising in professional services jobs is that you could very likely be busier than a one-legged man in an arse kicking contest over the coming months. Oh what a terrible problem to have, isn’t it?
Well don’t get your trousers in a bunch just yet -the economy is a harsh, fickle mistress and the tides can change seemingly overnight. I’m not telling anyone to sit tight and ride it out, though; while I’m mixing metaphors you should strike while the iron is hot. There’s no reason to sit back and wait to see if this is a short-lived bubble or a long-term trend when you could be out there working your little bum off, pulling in clients and more importantly some extra dosh!
The contract worker’s life is one of feast and famine, so you need to capitalise on your opportunities as they come. Don’t hesitate to put yourself out there to meet the demand of employers when it’s there – otherwise you’ll just end up kicking yourself during those lean times when you think back on how you could have set aside some extra cash for yourself and your family!
