IT contractors are unlikely to see an increase in the number of job opportunities available in the next months, as few firms look to take on extra staff.

According to the latest survey from employment agency Manpower, just seven per cent of businesses are expecting to take on more workers in the next quarter.

Meanwhile five per cent expect to lose staff, leaving a net recruitment outlook of just one or two per cent. 87 per cent expect there to be no change in the size of their workforce.

Reacting to this news, Andrew Hawes, director and co-founder of consultancy Newton, said companies are concentrating on making sure they are in a strong financial position before they decide to expand.

"I think a lot of these businesses are going to get themselves into a shape where they can start recruiting, but it is not yet at a point where that has become the focus," he explained.