IT Market Summary – November
Dec 9, 2013
IT Market Summary – November
Dec 9, 2013

 

Key points

  • Permanent salary growth at six-year high amid declining candidate availability
  • Overall vacancies increase at fastest pace since July 1998
  • Permanent and contract appointment rise at strong, albeit slower rates

 

Slower but still marked growth of staff appointments.

The number of people placed in permanent and contract roles continued to rise in November.

 

Vacancies rise at strongest rate in over 15 years.

Overall demand for staff increased at a faster pace in November. Private sector demand for staff continued to show a much stronger trend than public sector demand.

 

Permanent salaries increase at fastest pace in six years…

Growth of permanent staff salaries accelerated further, reaching the strongest rate since November 2007.  Contract staff pay rose at a solid pace that was sharper than October.

 

…as decline in candidate availability gathers pace

The availability of candidates to fill permanent roles fell further in November, with the rate of decline quickening to the sharpest since July 2007.  Contract staff availability meanwhile fell at the fastest pace in nine years.

 

Permanent IT staff skills in short supply – Business Analysts, C#, C++, Developers, Java, PHP, Software Engineers.

 

IT Contractor staff skills in short supply – Developers, Infrastructure, .Net, SAP, SQL.

 

Staff appointments

Our IT consultants reported a further increase in the number of people they placed in permanent jobs in November.  Strong growth of available job vacancies underpinning the latest rise in placements.

Billings received from contract workers continued to rise in November.  The rate of growth was strong due to increased client activity levels.

 

Vacancies

Demand for staff increased further in November for both permanent and contract.  The rate of growth was considerable, having accelerated to the strongest in over 15 years.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that job vacancies were up 12.6% on an annual basis in the three months to October.

 

Demand for staff by sector

Permanent staff – Growth of demand was broad-based across all key types of permanent staff with engineering remaining the most sought-after category and IT moving to third place.

Contract staff – A shift in the market with Blue Collar sector showing the highest level of demand.  The IT sector stays strong in 4th place.

 

Staff Availability

The availability of candidates to fill permanent job vacancies continued to fall in November.  Moreover, the rate of decline was the sharpest since July 2007 with strong IT professionals in short supply.

Contract candidate availability declined for a fifth successive month in November – the sharpest for nine years.

 

Remuneration

Average starting salaries awarded to people placed in permanent jobs rose further in November.  The higher salaries attributed to a combination of strong demand for staff and shortages of skilled candidates.

Daily rates for contractors also continued to increase in November.

 

Household Finance Index

The latest HFI survey provided a positive signal for the UK labour market, as workplace activity increased for the tenth successive month and at a solid pace.

IT was the strongest performing sector for workplace activity, followed by construction and manufacturing.

  

About Langley James

Langley James was founded in 1999 by James Toovey, a highly respected recruitment industry professional.  James wanted to provide something unique: a bespoke recruitment service which was founded on service excellence.  With offices in London and Manchester, we are now providing our ‘boutique style’ recruitment services throughout the world and over the last 14 years, have worked with some of the most respected companies in the world.

To find out why so many companies turn to Langley James for support for fulfilling their IT recruitment needs, call and speak to one of our specialist consultants today on 0845 124 9555.

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