The number of jobs available in the IT sector is on the rise, which could be down to the increasing levels of confidence people are having about the economy's long-term stability.

Jamie Bowler, head of marketing at the IT Job Board, has claimed that there will likely be a growth in opportunities during the new year.

Among the key reasons behind this is the publication of the Digital Britain report, which he said has created an "infrastructure roadmap" which will allow companies to plan their developments more effectively, he said.

Mr Bowler asserted: "IT is at the core function of all business and, as a result, we are seeing increased demand from consultancies. This in itself suggests that more projects are being signed off."

Recent research by the KPMG and REC suggested that the number of companies hiring contract staff is continuing to rise, which could be good news for IT contractors.