IT contractors lose faith in the public sector

The government’s austerity message appears to be getting through to IT contractors, as only a small minority of them foresee a healthier pipeline of contracts, says a payroll company.

Giant group evidenced its own belief that “demand from the public sector is set to fall considerably” by pointing out that an upturn is projected by less than a fifth of contractors.

In particular, only 17% of contractors on the company’s books predict that the public sector will generate more freelance IT opportunities over the next 12 months.

“Austerity and continued budget cuts have had an impact,” giant said of the public sector. “Fewer and fewer IT specialists believe there will be more opportunities here.”

But it seems the “slack has been well and truly taken up by the private sector”, said giant’s Matthew Brown, citing a greater number of IT contacts in Transport, Leisure and Telecoms.

In its heyday, in 2008, the public sector was forecast by almost a third of IT contractors to not just provide additional opportunities; but to also provide more work than seven rival sectors.