Boom in demand for IT contractors

A report published this week has shown an increase in demand for IT contractors.

Developers, Unix specialists, analysts, and project managers now command an average rate of £27.60 per hour, up from £27.01 in May, according to a Contractor UK market report. The rate is the highest paid to contractors this year, exceeding January's previous high of £27.56.

According to the report, the rate rise is partly caused by the summer - with short-term contracts more common as full-time workers go on holiday. Staff shortages are compounded by contractors themselves taking breaks after completing six-month contracts.

Contractor UK also found that, for the first time, analysts are now more in demand than developers. It said this is caused by an increase in demand for analysts, rather than declining demand for developers.

The report found the rate of pay for SQL developers increased but there was a drop in the rate for coders who specialise in other languages such as C++ and Java. Demand for those with telecoms skills remained broadly unchanged.

To read the full report, click here.

Tom Espiner writes for ZDNet UK