Latest news: Private sector IT recruitment improves

The number of new IT jobs created in the private sector continues to increase, as it picks up the shortfall in employment in the public sector. 09/07/2012

According to research carried out by ReThink Recruitment, IT recruitment in the public sector has taken a significant hit over the last two years, largely as a result of the government's austerity measures.

Based on analysis of over 3,500 jobs over May and June, the study showed that just 5% of new IT jobs in the UK are in the public sector, down from around 30% at the start of 2010. 

However, the recent Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG Report on Jobs found that growth in the total number of jobs in IT is currently higher than in any other industry. This suggests private sector IT recruitment is improving considerably.

Michael Bennett, director at ReThink Recruitment, commented, 'The government's austerity programme has had a devastating effect on the public sector's recruitment of IT contractors. Whilst the hiring of IT staff in the private sector is beginning to recover, this is definitely not the case in the public sector. Just a tiny proportion of new jobs are now in public sector roles.'

Mr Bennett added, 'Before the coalition government started implementing its austerity regime, the public sector had been making much more use of IT staff. Withdrawing major government IT projects, coupled with recruitment freezes in many government departments, has completely reversed this trend.'

According to Office of National Statistics data published last month, some 20% of all UK workers are now employed within the public sector.