IT contractors are likely to benefit from a strong position in the UK recruitment market, a leading organisation says.

Improvements in the recruitment sector are the "first signs" of a return to growth and investment in the industry, according to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Senior IT recruiter positions have been a "key area of growth", along with positions in healthcare and finance.

However, there are still concerns about a skills shortage within the recruitment industry, particularly at middle-management level.

Tim Connolly, chair of the REC Recruitment to Recruitment sector group, said that many of those who left the industry in the recession are choosing not to return.

"As a result there is now a significant gap where middle managers once stood, with no-one at the junior end experienced enough to move up the career ladder," he added.

Earlier this week, the REC signaled its support for government plans to get IT contractors back into work.

The REC's own research showed that the recession saw turnover in the recruitment industry fall from £27 billion to £22.5 billion in just one year.