That site would suggest the market in general for most skills is down almost 60% compared to 2 years ago, when looked at over the last six months.
This month on its own, the market looks to be in even worse shape, probably down 80% on two years ago. While job applicants for each role could be 10x to 100x what they used to be.
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: State of the Market
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "State of the Market"
Collapse
-
Originally posted by SchumiStars View Post
Have you got a graphic which represents more up to date data, this one shows up to 2010 please?https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/contracts/uk/csharp.do6months to June 2022 6months to June 2023 6months to June 2024 Contract jobs citing Finance 18,065 11,912 8,175 Contract jobs requiring a Developer 16,044 8,970 6,253 Contract jobs citing C# 5,216 2,884 2,051 Contract jobs citing Java 8965 4651 2816
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Fraidycat View PostSome historical data from the Jobstats archive, chart below.
Shows the 2001 slump lasted from mid 2001 to the end of 2003. That was 30 months.
The 2008 slump looks like it lasted around 15 months, the cut to almost zero interest rates saving the day.
With reports that this current slump started in mid 2022, would mean we are 24 months into this one
Leave a comment:
-
In pure terms of seeing opportunities appear on Jobserve or LinkedIn this is a bad as I have seen it in my 16 years in contracting. That said in my last few goes at getting a new contract it came through my network or being approached through LinkedIn so maybe it isn't the end of the world.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Fraidycat View PostSome historical data from the Jobstats archive, chart below.
Shows the 2001 slump lasted from mid 2001 to the end of 2003. That was 30 months.
The 2008 slump looks like it lasted around 15 months, the cut to almost zero interest rates saving the day.
With reports that this current slump started in mid 2022, would mean we are 24 months into this one
Or is it the case that effects of Brexit/Covid will still take more time to work their way through the system?
Leave a comment:
-
Some historical data from the Jobstats archive, chart below.
Shows the 2001 slump lasted from mid 2001 to the end of 2003. That was 30 months.
The 2008 slump looks like it lasted around 15 months, the cut to almost zero interest rates saving the day.
With reports that this current slump started in mid 2022, would mean we are 24 months into this one
Last edited by Fraidycat; Yesterday, 23:40.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by dsc View PostThe issue is a lot here have tried different venues and came out with a big fat zero. Everyone in their right might is looking at every possible angle to land anything and also coming up with nothing. It's not about accepting a low ball rate, it's about having any rate to consider in the first place.
But at least as far as I can tell (both from my recent experience and the hiring that I can see going on at the client that I work in, previous clients/employers, etc.) the job market in general is not apocalyptically bad to the extent that a large percentage of skilled contractors would have to fall back on Uber after 3 months of looking for something between their ideal role and the other extreme of unskilled/low-skilled jobs that anyone fresh off the boat could do.
Leave a comment:
-
-
Just applied to the local college to teach CS. Also applied for a PGCE, perhaps a career change?!
Perhaps the market will never recover? IR35 has been such a horrible pain for the last 5 yrs that it's seems such a mountain to climb to get back to pre-covid rates.
2019 I was in for an investment bank, outside rate on a long term contract. COVID, IR35, Brexit all hit at once and my gosh is was an utter tulip show. I had also just taken on a large mortgage.
In all honesty it would have been easier to have just shot myself in the head and be done with it.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by dsc View Post
The issue is a lot here have tried different venues and came out with a big fat zero. Everyone in their right might is looking at every possible angle to land anything and also coming up with nothing. It's not about accepting a low ball rate, it's about having any rate to consider in the first place.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by sreed View Post
My take on this is a bit different. For a skilled contractor, there are a LOT more avenues you can explore between not getting the contract you’re most suited for and any ‘unskilled’ or ‘low-skilled’ job.
The specifics will of course differ from individual to individual but to take my own example, as a mid-career generalist PM contractor with experience primarily in FS - if I couldn’t find the kind of contracts I’m best suited to (and pay what I’d like) then I’d go down all of the below routes (not necessarily in that order) before looking at Uber or a supermarket worker job.
- contracts outside FS
- PAYE FTCs
- perm jobs
- FTCs and perm jobs outside FS
- perm and FTC jobs in the civil service and charity sectors (from experience their recruitment processes are very good for square pegs looking for a round hole and ignoring things like being “overqualified”, “too old”, “wrong kind of experience” which private sector recruiters often use to set aside CVs). Applying for CS and non-profit sector jobs is an absolute pain in the arse as they all require some form of cover letter addressing person specifications in a STAR format etc. but it also eliminates a lot of the competition.
To state the obvious, none of the above is likely to pay what the “best” contract for me might but if push comes to shove I’ll try out everything.
At least on the basis of my recent experience and expectations, the job market that’s relevant to me is doing alright.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by Fraidycat View PostSo anyone out for more than three months with a small war chest has to decide when they try 'out of industry', eg a delivery job etc.. thats a very hard pill to swallow and most wont do it except as a very last resort, when things get desperate..
The specifics will of course differ from individual to individual but to take my own example, as a mid-career generalist PM contractor with experience primarily in FS - if I couldn’t find the kind of contracts I’m best suited to (and pay what I’d like) then I’d go down all of the below routes (not necessarily in that order) before looking at Uber or a supermarket worker job.
- contracts outside FS
- PAYE FTCs
- perm jobs
- FTCs and perm jobs outside FS
- perm and FTC jobs in the civil service and charity sectors (from experience their recruitment processes are very good for square pegs looking for a round hole and ignoring things like being “overqualified”, “too old”, “wrong kind of experience” which private sector recruiters often use to set aside CVs). Applying for CS and non-profit sector jobs is an absolute pain in the arse as they all require some form of cover letter addressing person specifications in a STAR format etc. but it also eliminates a lot of the competition.
To state the obvious, none of the above is likely to pay what the “best” contract for me might but if push comes to shove I’ll try out everything.
At least on the basis of my recent experience and expectations, the job market that’s relevant to me is doing alright.
Leave a comment:
-
Thought I'd look in and see how things were... The market sound horrific
Went perm a couple of years back after struggling to find much post-pandemic. Hating every second of course, been keeping myself sane with the prospect of returning to contracting at some point. Looking less and less likely now.
Really feel for you guys out there with long bench times. Worryingly, there is a real lull in work where I am currently, no new revenue-earning projects since last year and a lot of dev staff on internal projects to keep them "ticking over". Can't see that being sustainable for too long without the inevitable result...
Tough times.
Leave a comment:
-
Originally posted by willendure View PostFor those holding their breath for an interest rate cut...
Just not many perm jobs around either.
So anyone out for more than three months with a small war chest has to decide when they try 'out of industry', eg a delivery job etc.. thats a very hard pill to swallow and most wont do it except as a very last resort, when things get desperate..
Leave a comment:
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Leave a comment: