IT Contractors looking to improve skills and take on more responsibility to counter offshoring risks

IT contractors are responding positively to the threat posed by offshoring to entry-level IT jobs by favouring roles that allow them to develop higher value skills and gain management experience, reveals a survey by giant group plc, the contractor services provider.

At the same time, short-term financial considerations, such as income and job security, continue to be of declining importance to IT contractors when choosing contracts.

The survey, conducted among over 2,500 respondees, over the last 12 months, shows that of six criteria, three ñ skills development, responsibility and brand status ñ are more important to IT contractors now than at the start of 2006.

Skills development is now the second most important consideration for IT contractors, alongside work-life balance. Job security has fallen to be fifth most important criteria, having once occupied second place.

Criteria
Q4 2006
Q4 2005

Income
7.5
7.6

Skills development
6.7
6.5

Work-life balance
6.7
6.8

Responsibility
6.1
5.9

Job security
6.0
6.1

Brand status
5.5
5.4

Contractors are asked to award each of six specified criteria a mark between 0 and 10

Matthew Brown, Managing Director, giant group, comments: ìUK contractors are increasingly recognising the need to climb up the skills ladder and acquire more management experience as lower skilled IT functions continue to be sent offshore.î

According to giant, skills development is a key factor influencing criteria, such as income and job security.

ìContractors at the higher end of the skills spectrum are benefiting from double digit pay increases, whilst IT workers in support roles are seeing their pay stagnate or even decline, so contractors motivated principally by income neglect developing their skills at their own peril,î says Matthew Brown.

The rising value attached to the brand status of the client or the project, is a good indication of strengthening confidence in the contract market, says giant.

ìContractors feel they are in a position to give more consideration to the kind of work they do and the status of the client because they no longer feel they have to maximise short term income in anticipation of long periods without work.î