IT contractors could find it more difficult to find work this year due to the increased friction between employers and recruitment firms.

Virginia Raemy, chief executive of TalentPuzzle, claimed that there will be a significant rise in the number of companies who are dissatisfied with the agencies they use to obtain staff.

She suggested that the recession is behind these additional pressures, with financial concerns leading to firms looking to pay smaller fees.

The large number of candidates on the market is another reason why there have been problems, as she advised that organisations are worried they will be swamped by candidates who are being oversold.

Ms Raemy stated: "Recruiters should take that extra moment and talk to the clients to make sure that the CV fits in the company culture and matches all of the requirements."

Recent TalentPuzzle research suggested that 77 per cent of firms are frustrated that there is no consistency to recruitment rates, with three quarters anxious they are not getting value for money.