Leading recruiter, Parity, has predicted a promising 2008 for public sector IT, despite the so-called "credit crunch".

This follows news that Parity's Resources division has ranked as the top supplier of IT specialist contractors to the public sector every month in 2008 so far. The company sees no let up in the demand for key IT skills across the full range of central and local government departments.

"We're not seeing anything like the doom and gloom predicted for the recruitment market, as demand for key IT skills remains high," commented Alwyn Welch, CEO at Parity.

"Significant parts of our industry are far better positioned to survive any downturn than in the last recession. Indeed, as investment in IT in the public sector is essential to deliver overall cost savings together with improved service, it's unlikely that hiring in skills will face material cutbacks."

Welch continued: "The public sector is becoming an increasingly attractive option for IT professionals. Pay has gone up to compete with the private sector for the best talent, and with the perception that public sector work is a safer bet there is likely to be continued skills migration from private sector."

"The final piece of the jigsaw is the changing mix of skills. Developments in the technology used to create and maintain IT systems, combined with the move of certain types of IT delivery offshore, is creating a real shortage of specialist key skills..."