A major industry organisation has backed government attempts to get younger IT contractors back into the world of work.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has highlighted the key role that local authorities have to play in helping people into work as efficiently as possible.

Kelly Adamson, north-east regional director at the organisation, claimed that further action is necessary in order to get as many people into work as possible.

She said: "The REC believes the government must take the lead in stimulating job creation such as encouraging entrepreneurship and the event being held in Newcastle by the Entrepreneur Forum on Monday typifies this kind of action."

Ms Adamson added that both employers and recruiters can help IT contractors by highlighting the support mechanisms in place to help people into work.

Earlier this month, Recruitment and Employment Confederation chief executive Kevin Green claimed that IT contractors are set to benefit from falling unemployment figures.