IT outsourcing is not always fun
Although the current economic situation has led many firms to re-examine the way they control their use of labor, it is not all been positive for outsourcing firms. The major players in the industry have been able to survive, picking up new clients and customers along the way. However, for smaller firms and individual freelancers, the story is not so happy. It is becoming a massive struggle for everyone to get enough work to continue. And of course, with the financial climate being what it is, there is a lower level of support for people in this situation.
Two industries that have been hit hard by these recent developments are business services and single person IT providers. It is extremely difficult to compete in a shrinking market place and even though some predict the recession is ending, it may not be soon enough. Many industry experts say there is a time lag involved for this sort of work and method of working. The PCG, a trade group for freelance working staff, have announced that their members are finding times extremely hard. It is said that just under 70% of the members of the PCG are finding work very hard to come by. This is a large percentage and indicative of a market that is still suffering.
The PCG, clearly trying to raise the spirit of their troops, made this statement;
“Due to the fact that IT contractors tend to work for big clients, such as financial institutions and government departments, it is more likely that in the recession they will shed contractors as a savings exercise.”
“There is a greater propensity for big business and large departments to outsource and look for the most efficient way of managing this procurement process.”
Their poll was carried out in advance of National Freelancer Day, which was not as happy an occasion as many freelancers would have liked. One issue that has affected Freelancers is the fact that other similar styled jobs have not been affected in the same way. Freelance journalism is a job that many would consider to be at the mercy of the economy and recession but compared to freelance IT, it has appeared positively bullet-proof. Seeing similar minded or skilled workers thriving whilst you are suffering is deeply upsetting and this has added to the malaise within the IT sector.
There are a great number of IT jobs which have to be completed onsite and in person, which means that a lot of tasks are unable to be outsourced to offshore locations. This would have raised the hopes of many working in the industry that jobs would be available but this does not appear to be the case. When times are hard and everyone is clamoring for the smaller amount of work there is, IT can be a very dangerous and difficult business. If you are considering a job in this field, it would be wise to consider it very carefully before signing up. Outsourcing is a great solution but sometimes there is not enough to go around.
