Out for 2 years...what's happened to rates?!

[whitehart]

Hi

I was a contractor for nearly 20 years up until the end of 2010. At that point, I was working in South Wales, at a rate of £40/h. I took a year out, then went permie for 12 months elsewhere, until I saw the light, and left last month!

Anyway - I received an email today from the client I was working for in 2010, and they've asked me to return...however - I'm completely out of touch with what's happened to rates in the interim, so could do with a bit of guidance so that I know a) where to pitch my rate, and b) that the agency aren't giving me a load of bull!

Bear in mind - it's an ageing, Jurassic period skillset, being MF Cobol...................

Any ideas?

[cojak]

If they offer the same rate as 3 years ago then bite their hand off.

Many contractors have had to accept a 10% cut per year for the last 2 years...

[mudskipper]

If they offer the same rate as 3 years ago then bite their hand off.

Many contractors have had to accept a 10% cut per year for the last 2 years...

WSS. No harm in trying your luck though!

[cojak]

But congratulations for still being able to earn money out of MF COBOL, I stopped teaching it in 1999 and coding in it in 1997!

[JoJoGabor]

Mine have gone up over 25% in the last 2 years in London. That did include a move from Investment Banking to non-Investment Banking though

[northernladuk]

Look at jobserve et al and DYOR?

Try itjobswatch for your skills?

[whitehart]

Look at jobserve et al and DYOR?

Try itjobswatch for your skills?

Thanks for the replies, chaps! I'd done some research, but hadn't come up with much...South Wales rates are a bit more difficult to discover...but the contract's within half a mile of my house, so I'd be quite happy with the same as the old rate!

[knight007]

be prepared to accept a lower rate. We've had a lot more contractors come in from India. I've found that these guys are willing for accept reduced rates to get their foot in the door. As a result they influence the overall market rate.

[GB9]

Headline rates

Don't think headline rates have moved much in the 12 years I have been contracting. I have done ok in the last 6 years, but mainly from having a lot of experience and a fair chunk of luck. Still seeing PM jobs advertised at £350 and BA jobs at £250 though. Still, you get what you pay for IMO.

[fullyautomatix]

be prepared to accept a lower rate. We've had a lot more contractors come in from India. I've found that these guys are willing for accept reduced rates to get their foot in the door. As a result they influence the overall market rate.

Not in COBOL !! Maybe Java or C#. Many of those chaps may not even have heard of COBOL.