The recent economic downturn and subsequent recession did not badly affect IT contractors, one expert has claimed.

Gerry McLaughlin of ITContractor.com said that hiring contractors has actually increased at a higher rate than that seen in 2008, before the recession began to bite.

"There has been a sea change in attitude at companies where, instead of seeing contractors as a cost, they are seeing them as integral to their companies, and even the major financial institutions are holding onto them whilst shedding costs elsewhere," Mr McLaughlin stated.

Last week, Badenoch & Clark reported that the transfer of knowledge from contractors to permanent staff will be key to the success of IT departments in 2011.

The report also stated that employers must implement a plan for knowledge transfer so when a contractor's term comes to an end the skills are not completely lost to the business.

Dave Fleming, sales director at Badenoch & Clark, recently suggested that the increase in IT contractor recruitment is hopefully an indicator of long-term growth in the coming months.