State of the Market

[SussexSeagull]

Whilst I'm not looking, having recently signed a 12 month extension, I received a couple of messages from agents on LinkedIn regarding developer roles, one perm, not sure about the other. The perm one looked an interesting role (not for me as I'm hardcore contract/outside IR35), with travel opportunities to USA, Australia and wait for it, Scotland! Again, not for me as I'm an old fart and I've done my share of traveling/staying away. But it's encouraging that some opportunities are appearing.

It's encouraging but getting approached for a role and having your feet under the (virtual) desk can be a long journey full of pitfalls. Although an academic point in your case.

[SussexSeagull]

A big part of this slump is caused by herd behaviour. If your competition is not starting new projects then that means you don't have to either.

You would think companies would take advantage and hire lower priced contractors during a slump, but thats not how things work. It is safer to just do what every other company in your sector is doing. Wont get fired that way.

It does mean that there will be projects and ideas that are hold. And the flood gates will open at some point because everyone will start projects at the same time, because thats what everyone is doing now.

You saw the same a few years back when one back announced mass redundancies and the others soon followed. You almost got the impression they felt they had to so as not look out of place to the stock market.

As you say there must be a lot of work tucked away on spreadsheets and PIDs that will have to see the light of day one day. Just remains to be seen if Contractors are involved in them.

[fiisch]

Apparently the London insurance job market is doing pretty well - highest staffing levels since 2013. All driven by GWP numbers that are almost double what it was 10 years ago.

Article from May 2024 - https://www.ft.com/content/886e573f-...1-982fef730c3a

Just commented on another thread, but seen a big increase in roles for insurance market.

BA Outside Rates of £700-750, which is by far the highest I've ever seen. Currently in a contract until end of the year, but it is tempting as that's a decent uplift on the rates from earlier in the year. Certainly, reasons to be positive about the contractor market.

[Fraidycat]

Nice breakout above 21,000 in the FTSE 250 today after the good inflation data from the US.

[sreed]

Just commented on another thread, but seen a big increase in roles for insurance market.

BA Outside Rates of £700-750, which is by far the highest I've ever seen. Currently in a contract until end of the year, but it is tempting as that's a decent uplift on the rates from earlier in the year. Certainly, reasons to be positive about the contractor market.

Agreed. From what I can see there are a good number of decently paid BA, PM, change roles in the insurance sector. Even when I was looking for PM roles last summer, there were quite a few well paid ones in the insurance sector.

[Fraidycat]

More good news

In a broad-based advance, #UK GDP grew by 0.4% in May in real terms.
This is double the consensus forecast, follows a flat April and, at 0.9%, takes the three-month GDP expansion to its highest level since January 2022.

[avonleigh]

Marketing has improved a little. But nothing to get too excited about yet. I have managed to land a new contract, had only one week out. Goal is still to go permie but have got nowhere with that. Hoping I get the chance to convert to permie with new client if all goes well.

[dsc]

Got an extension till end of the year, which was a fairly big plot twist, still that doesn't resolve much as I want to go perm, but there's a hiring freeze currently, so lets see.

Market wise, contract at least, it's dead for me, no upticks, no movement. Perm is a bit different, seems to be a fair bit of job ads, but mostly low paid, with tulip ton of travel.

[Fraidycat]

1800 Indians turn up for 10 positions in person back home in Gujarat, chaos ensues.

I think some UK companies still occasionally do open interview days for perm roles, no idea what the turnout for those would be in this market.

[ladymuck]

Wow, you need 20 years experience over three very different sectors all for £550, inside?? What is the world coming to?

Role: Business Architect / Senior Business Analyst

Location: UK Remote

Duration: 6 Months

Day rate: £550 inside IR35

Role Description:

Our client needs a professionally qualified Senior Business Analyst & Business Architect with over 20 years of experience in enabling change and realizing value across the Financial Services, Healthcare, and Energy sectors. The ideal candidate will possess proven analytical methods, techniques, and creative problem-solving skills and will be comfortable in both business and technical roles, able to perform strategic/enterprise analysis as well as detailed analysis and design.