Employees in the Irish information technology (IT) sector who opt out of permanent jobs in favour of contract work can increase their salary by as much as 40 per cent.
That is according to contract recruitment company, Computer Team Group (CTG) which has just published a new "Guide to Contracting in Ireland".
CTG claims that already 20 per cent of permanent IT staff in Britain are considering contracting their services within the next year.
Contracting has been slower to take off here, but the guide indicates there are many global companies who have contracting requirements in Ireland but cannot find the people.
Ms Libby Vaughan, CTG sales director, said: "CTG have had a huge amount of requests in the last 12 months from service providers looking for contract partners in Ireland. As IT departments in companies are demanding greater flexibility in their staffing requirements, there will be increased demand for contractors."
The top programming skills in demand in the IT contract industry in Britain and Europe are Unix, C++, Oracle, C and Windows NT. Assembly legacy skills are also in demand to meet the requirements of the Year 2000 and EMU changeovers.
CTG which has opened an office in Dublin says permanent, skilled workers with good experience in any of these areas should be able to command relatively high weekly rates in comparison to their current earnings. The average rise from permanent to contract work is running at nearly 1 1/2 times annual earnings, including provision for holiday pay and employers pension contributions. However, the guide warns that first-time contractors often earn between 15 and 20 per cent less than experienced contractors.
Other disadvantages include constant travel, possible difficulties securing a mortgage as a self-employed person and no chance of climbing the corporate ladder.
CTG stresses that the basis of any successful career in contract employment is skills development. Keeping on top of emerging technologies can be achieved by becoming familiar with the latest industry trends. Examples of skills areas earmarked for heavy contract demand in the near future include SAP, Baan, Peoplesoft, Lotus Notes, Domino and Rdbms.
Java and Internet development have been highlighted as key future skills, but some believe these areas have been "overhyped". Not surprisingly, any expertise in Microsoft programming is a safe bet, but an additional bonus is a Microsoft Certified Professional qualification.
One of the crucial factors for contract workers is timing entry into, and exit from different areas of expertise. According to the guide: "Contractors who enjoy long-term, well-paid careers spot when a technology will take off. They follow the market, keep up to date, do the training and then reap the rewards."
The "Guide to Contracting in Ireland" is available free from Computer Team Group. Telephone: 01 662 0459; email: compteam@iol.ie
