IT nous links 'most resorted to' contract hires

Technology feeds at least three of the five foremost roles that non-corporates say they have called off looking to fill full-timers with, in favour of finding contractors.

In fact, 62% of SMEs have replaced their search for an employee during the past three years by searching for a freelancer instead, typically for an IT-led role, said PeoplePerHour.com.

Other than Design, which may or may not need tech skills, three out of the four roles resorted to on a contract term were “linked to recent technological developments,” the site found.

Software Development was the second most frequently-sought skill on such a basis; Marketing the third and Social Media the fourth. Development is also the third ‘hottest’ skill on the site, overall.

“Technology may well be developing too quickly for business to cope,” reflected the founder of PeoplePerHour, Xenios Thrasyvoulou.

“Hiring a freelance worker on a temporary basis is considered to be less of a risk than taking on someone permanently…[especially when] time and local talent are both [in] short [supply]”.

He believes such a risk to hirers further reduces if the temporary worker they engage is already reviewed – such as having recommendations, including, he explained, those written by their peers.