Peoplebank has released its Federal ICT Labour Hire Index, which measures the cost of a unit of labour hire and tracks contractor demand.

 

The Federal Government’s use of ICT contractors strengthened significantly during the first two quarters of 2010-11 (Jul-Dec) with preliminary data for the third quarter (Jan-Mar) indicating further increases.


As at December 2010 the Index stood at 1,263 which represents a 5.4% improvement over December 2009.


Indicative data for the third quarter shows the Index already 3.7% ahead of the same period 12 months ago, and an 18.7% improvement on the 863 level recorded in March 2010.

The report predicts that demand will rise 25 per cent or more through the next couple of quarters.

“Anecdotal evidence from the Canberra IT market indicates that contract demand is likely to continue strengthening through 2011 underpinned by the commencement of many new projects which had been delayed in 2010 when the Government entered caretaker mode,” according to the report.

The report can be accessed here.