Permie job growth faster than any time since 1998

Latest KPMG job index confirms that employment rates are rising

The growth rate of permanent placements for IT professionals rose for the 55th month in a row last month - meaning that vacancy numbers are now increasing faster than any time since 1998.

Heath Jackson, partner in the CIO advisory practice at KPMG, said more organisations were offering contracts for permanent positions than temporary roles in March.

"The technology sector figure resonates with the national numbers, indicating employment is on the up. The next step will be for candidates to put themselves forward for the roles on offer to improve prospects - something they still seem unwilling to do," Jackson said.

"The unanswered question is whether the workforce as a whole can feed the demand and meet employer requirements."

Jackson noted that one challenge is the time it takes for new hires to get up to speed. It can take about a year for an employee to reach a desired level of productivity, he said.

The claim is from KPMG's latest monthly Report on Jobs, performed in conjunction with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). Demand for permanent staff was also stronger than that for temps or contractors, he said.

In fact, temporary and contract IT professional roles posted below the national average, for all types of role considered in the index, which is compiled using a questionnaire sent to 400 recruiters and employment consultancies.