IT contractors may find increasing opportunities in web marketing, as one commentator claims that it is now a major force in the sector.

Web marketing is now taking the central advertising role for almost all major brands, often using other media to drive online promotions, according to Karin von Abrams, senior analyst at eMarketer.

Pioneering companies using innovative web-based techniques have, along with the explosion in social media, made investing in good web presence essential for any company, Ms von Abrams claims, which could present roles for IT contractors.

"It is now clear that every brand or business can benefit in some way from building awareness online, or from rethinking its business processes to make full use of digital channels," she added.

IT contractors may need to think about branching out a little to find work, as the head of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation Kevin Green has warned that the UK jobs market is likely to stay flat for some time.