Trends in IT Recruitment Suggest Candidate Driven Market
Recent growth indications give cause for optimism in IT Recruitment but also concern about skills shortages.
Recent activities within the IT recruitment industry have suggested that the market is starting to recover after struggling through the recession. Figures show that recruitment within technology and IT is a lot healthier than 12 months ago, and growth is expected to continue.
The average salary for a permanent IT professional is now in the region of £39,000, a 5% increase on last year. Additionally, some job boards, particularly specialist IT sites, are reporting an increase in vacancy advertising, some as much as 25% on last year. Increased confidence has been named as a factor in the increase, along with a stabilising economy which has allowed directors to invest in recruitment again.
These are good signs for those in the IT industry, particularly graduates or other job hunters. However, some in the IT recruitment sector have expressed concern over the candidate driven nature of the market.
Recruiters are reporting a lack of quality candidates and skills shortages in some areas, particularly Java, PHP and .Net development. While more roles are being advertised on job boards, applications per vacancy have fallen. It is possible that uncertainty in the economy meant that talented candidates were reluctant to move, preferring to stay in their secure jobs rather than hunting elsewhere, and have not yet regained their confidence in the job market. To try and attract and keep top talent, employers have had to raise salaries.
Of more concern are the claims of technical skills shortages in the UK, with some employers and recruiters complaining that IT courses don’t adequately prepare students for working life, and that overseas workers are able to provide a higher level of technical knowledge than the average British worker.
Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: with IT recruitment in the UK picking up again, those with strong skills and solid practical experience will find themselves able to take their pick of jobs and command good salaries.
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