IT recruitment on the rise

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IT recruitment is on the up in both Ireland and the UK, according to two recently published surveys. According to the Irish staffing agency Rescon IT’s latest salary and contract rates survey, there has been considerable upturn in vacancies across all sectors
recruiting IT roles over the past year. The staffing agency recorded a 29.5 per cent increase in the number of vacancies received from client companies from June 2003 to June 2004.

Contributory factors cited by the recruitment firm include a demand for technical sales people, an expansion of development and QA (quality assurance) teams and increasing optimism among those working in the IT industry. According to Rescon IT, development
roles have increased over the past year with more C++ professionals being sought. In addition, salaries have become a focal point in the sector due to increased demand for candidates and are rising steadily as a result, with bonus and benefits also becoming
important.

With regard to general IT contract rates, Rescon IT says that these rates are increasing steadily as a result of increased market activity.  However, Oracle and Java rates are now 20 per cent higher than last year due to an increase in demand. J2EE and .Net contractor skills are also in demand.

According to Sonya Curley, Rescon IT’s recruitment manager, the local IT sector is alive and well. ‘As a result of the upturn in the market, companies have to move faster with their recruitment process,’ she said. ‘Companies have received additional funding and
investments and as a result are actively recruiting (and) all the signs indicate that the good news looks set to continue for the IT market’.

A second study, conducted by the British recruitment firm Reed, reveals that over two thirds of IT organisations in the UK plan to hire for growth during Q3, 2004. The study reveals that UK recruitment for growth has accelerated to its highest level in two years, while downsizing is at its lowest.

Overall, 68 per cent of companies who responded to Reed’s survey said they would be recruiting during the third quarter. A further 26 per cent of IT firms stated that they intend to hire to maintain staff levels. Only six per cent of organisations plan to downsize their staff levels over the next quarter, a decrease of one percentage point on the last quarter.

30/08/04

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