IT Contractor rates remain static in final quarter of 2007

From http://contracteye.co.uk - For IT Contractors

IT Contractor rates remain static in final quarter of 2007

There was no overall movement in the median salaries/ contract rates reported from permanent/contract IT staff during the final quarter of 2007 with permanent (median) salaries remaining static at £35,000 per annum and (median) contract rates fixed at £40 per hour.

The data, provided by TheSkillsMarket, shows that although average rates remained the same at the end of 2007, there were significant changes within regions and skill-sets.

Whilst overall, increases occurred in rates for those working with C, Lotus Notes, MTS, SAS and Sybase, the reverse was true for IT staff working with BEA WebLogic Server, COM/DCOM and Windows 2000 Professional.

IT staff working as Analyst Programmers, IT Directors and Technical Analysts all appeared to enjoy increases in their earnings during Q4.07 though Network Administrators, Programmers, Project Co-ordinators, Service Delivery Managers and Software Testers reported lower median earnings irrespective of their contractual status.

The North East, Wales, the North West and the West Midlands were all associated with increases in median salaries/rates even as remuneration for IT staff fell within the East of England, Scotland and the East Midlands

Salaries and rates both rose in the Aerospace and Property /Real Estate sectors during Q4.07 but fell for both permanent and contract IT staff working in Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality

Ann Swain, CEO of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo)said:

"In terms of contract staff, demand and pay rates remained stable during the fourth quarter of 2007. However, over the next six months we are expecting a slight swing towards permanent recruitment and away from contract..."

"On the whole, with many areas having remained stable and with no rate increase detectable in the fourth quarter of 2007, we are anticipating a slight downward trend in terms of pay rates over the next six months. This, however, varies between industry sector and region, and overall it is our opinion that the IT marketplace will continue to be buoyant in the first six months of 2008."