Recruiters still number one for contractors, says SJD

Recruitment agencies are still the most popular way for contractors to find work, according to the latest survey from SJD Accountancy.

Over a third of those questioned by the UK-based specialist contractor accountancy firm said they are still finding their contracts through a recruitment agency, a statistic that has remained consistent over the last two years, says SJD.

Of those questioned 71% said they had a positive experience using a recruitment agency, a 25% increase from 2012.

Claire Johnson, managing director of SJD Accountancy, says: “What is clear from this latest survey is that as the industry continues to recover from periods of uncertainty, recruiters have remained steadfast in helping place contract roles.”

- See more at: http://www.recruiter.co.uk/news/2014/03/recruiters-still-number-one-for-contractors-says-sjd/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=#sthash.XWZPICVA.dpuf

Contractors a Necessity, not Accessory, say IT hirers

IT leaders will regard contractors as a necessity - not an accessory - over the next 12 months, as the tech skills required for the most likely project investments are the ones in shortest supply. Phil Sheridan, managing director of Robert Half Technology, issued the verdict after the recruitment firm quizzed 100 CEOs in December 2013 about their plans for 2014.The survey, which was confined to the UK, found that the most popular IT initiatives were business intelligence and analytics, mobile solutions and app development.

Vacancies at 15-year high as recruitment rises, finds Report on Jobs

The number of vacancies across UK business increased at its fastest pace since July 1998 in November as appointments continued to grow, finds the REC/KPMG Report on Jobs.

This trend tallies with Office for National Statistics data produced in recent months, which put the number of job vacancies at 545,000 in the three months to October.

The monthly survey of 400 recruiters from the industry body and the professional services firm saw the number of people hired in permanent and temporary roles rise again last month, but not as dramatically as seen previously.

As placements continued to rise, the availability of staff for permanent and temporary jobs fell at its quickest rate for six and nine years respectively.

- See more at: http://www.recruiter.co.uk/news/2013/12/vacancies-at-15-year-high-as-recruitment-rises-finds-report-on-jobs/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=#sthash.y6LsQBOy.dpuf

IT contracting confidence up, giant survey suggests
 

Confidence within the IT contracting community is up year on year, that’s according to recent research by professional umbrella employment provider, giant group.

 

Results of its latest contractor survey of IT specialists point to increased confidence in the temporary market. Compared to figures over the last two years, the length between assignments is reducing, with the majority (82%) citing less than 31 days. In comparison, those recording 90 days and above has halved since 2011.

 

Added to this, over half of respondents are expecting job opportunities in IT to grow over the coming year and a further 64% predicting their earnings will increase. The survey also suggests that the top sectors for IT contracting opportunities over the next 12 months will be Support Services (26%), Financial Services (19%), Public Sector (14%) and Engineering & Construction (12%).

The UK economy looked set to grow faster this year than even optimists had expected after data on the services sector that one economist called 'show-stopping' today.

The sector, which accounts for 78 per cent of the economy, grew at its fastest pace in more than six years last month, suggesting overall growth in the third quarter will be higher than expected. The purchasing managers' index leapt to 60.2 in July from 56.9 in June, its highest level since December 2006.

'Although an early call on one month's data, the forward-looking elements from the survey point to a further strengthening of GDP in Q3 as the UK heads towards "escape velocity" and self-sustaining economic expansion,' said Paul Smith, senior economist at survey compilers Markit.

IT hiring continues to grow faster than other job categories

IT hiring continues to grow faster than other job categories and the U.K. economy as a whole, finds KPMG/Recruitment & Employment Confederation study.

This was the second month in a row that IT led the country’s job market, the study said,contrasting the rise in demand for technologists versus that of other categories like hotel and catering, engineering/construction, and nursing/medical care.

According to tax and accounting group Bloomsbury Professional, HMRC opened 193 new investigations compared to 59 in the previous tax year.

This is very much in line with the government’s promises to crackdown on tax avoidance made in last year’s Autumn Statement, a stance that looks certain to be maintained following yesterdays’ Budget.

IR35 is tax legislation that allows the government to tax freelancers – who may work using ‘personal service companies’ – as though they were disguised employees of their clients. The legislation is designed to prevent freelancers paying lower tax rates and National Insurance on earnings when HMRC thinks they are really an employee.
Despite HMRC’s crackdown, so far the 193 new investigations have failed to turn up any compliance failures.

Martin Casimir, managing director at Bloomsbury Professional, says: “It is a common misconception that people only use personal service companies to avoid tax. For some individuals with more than one employer or for those working on a temporary basis, registering as a personal service company is a legitimate way to work.”