Has the contract market in London died?

[DaveB]

Hi DA,

Would you like to have opportunities in Lisbon?

I'm sure he would, just don't let his wife find out....

[ShandyDrinker]

I have yet to understand the correlation between contractor pay and IT skills shortages. Contractor rates have hardly moved for 16 years yet skills shortages "apparently" prevail.

So what is it?

Offshoring of IT work (then why whine about a skills shortage?)
Excuse for not getting projects delivered
Sheer incompetence of internal hiring people

My money is on the last two

A combination of all the points you make. It doesn't help when the likes of Iain Duncan Smith perpetuates the myth that there is a skills shortage per the comment about software engineers from the ft "prioritising skilled people we are short of, such as software engineers..."

There is no skills shortage as such - just people not being prepared to work for bargain basement rates that are being offered although give it time and lower rates will become the norm.

[KentDogWalker]

+ this stupid brexit

[SueEllen]

A combination of all the points you make. It doesn't help when the likes of Iain Duncan Smith perpetuates the myth that there is a skills shortage per the comment about software engineers from the ft "prioritising skilled people we are short of, such as software engineers..."

There is no skills shortage as such - just people not being prepared to work for bargain basement rates that are being offered although give it time and lower rates will become the norm.

Time to write a letter to the editor of the FT as disgusted of x.

[GB9]

+ this stupid brexit

Don't blame Brexit for your inability to get a decent job. Go to Europe while you can and get any job you can like SAS, Scooter and their other mates.

+1 to the skills shortage crap. There is a shortage of skills at £10/hour but not at £75/hour.

[sasguru]

Don't blame Brexit for your inability to get a decent job. Go to Europe while you can and get any job you can like SAS, Scooter and their other mates.

+1 to the skills shortage crap. There is a shortage of skills at £10/hour but not at £75/hour.

You really are an ignorant chunt.
There is a shortage of skills at the higher levels that require mathematical ability, these pay more than 100 an hour.
Will forever be beyond you though.

[MarillionFan]

Don't blame Brexit for your inability to get a decent job. Go to Europe while you can and get any job you can like SAS, Scooter and their other mates.

+1 to the skills shortage crap. There is a shortage of skills at £10/hour but not at £75/hour.

You really are an ignorant chunt.
There is a shortage of skills at the higher levels that require mathematical ability, these pay more than 100 an hour.
Will forever be beyond you though.

[scooterscot]

IT is a skill?!

[DodgyAgent]

Hi DA,

Would you like to have opportunities in Lisbon?

Yes

[DodgyAgent]

You really are an ignorant chunt.
There is a shortage of skills at the higher levels that require mathematical ability, these pay more than 100 an hour.
Will forever be beyond you though.

Who is looking for them?