Recession not forcing contractors to change tactics

~ Research from Parity shows that IT contractors value contract length and location over job security ~

January 2009

Job security is not the most important factor for IT contractors, despite the high risk of unemployment in the current economic climate. That’s according to a survey from Parity, the business and IT solutions company, where IT contractors across the UK revealed their priorities for 2009.

The survey found that contract length was the ‘most important’ factor for one fifth of contractors, followed by financial reward, which was most important for 19 per cent of respondents. Location rated as a top priority for 18 per cent of respondents. Only 17 per cent selected job security as their most important factor, ahead of finding the right team (10 per cent) and presenting professional challenge (16 per cent).

In addition, Parity asked a small sample of those looking for permanent work the same questions. Interestingly, even fewer people put ‘job security’ first. Instead, ‘finding the right team’ was their top priority – the factor that was the least important for contractors.

“IT job hunters are still prioritising finding the right job for their needs, instead of simply taking any job that seems secure and well paid,” commented Alan Rommel, managing director at Parity Resources. “Newspaper headlines shout about dwindling employment prospects, but there are still jobs available for those with the right skills, qualifications or experience – so long as you know where to look.”

About Parity

Parity is a business and IT solutions company. With over 40 years' industry experience, it delivers a range of recruitment, learning and business and IT solutions that contribute to the growth and organisational performance of private and public sector clients.

Parity has deep industry knowledge and expertise across a variety of sectors including commercial, central and local government, defence and commercial. It delivers people, skills and concepts for IT projects and programmes and has provided these services to a range of blue-chip clients, including BT, Ofgem, HBOS, The Cabinet Office, BAT and The Charity Commission.

The company operates as three divisions, Solutions, Resources and Training, all of which use people to solve business and IT issues. Parity designed and runs the largest graduate recruitment programme in the UK for The Cabinet Office, is responsible for creating the UK’s award winning eGovernment portal, eFire, ranks as the top supplier of IT and Programme and Project Management specialist contractors to the public sector through the Catalist framework and throughout its history, has delivered training to over 1 million people - more people than any other UK IT training provider

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Parity recorded a turnover of over £150m in 2007.

http://www.parity.co.uk/

For further information, please contact:
Suzy Ferguson at LEWIS
suzyf@lewispr.com
+44 (0) 20 7802 2626/7

Caroline Overholt at Parity
c.overholt@parity.net
+44 (0) 845 873 6942