Confidence on career prospects has surged among IT contractors in the financial services sector over the last 12 months, according to research by contractor services provider giant group.

The research shows 36.7% of IT contractors think the financial services sector will create the most IT jobs over the year, up from 22% this time last year.

Conversely, just 4.5% of IT contractors expect the public sector to create the most IT jobs in 2011, down from 24.7% in Q4 2009.

Matthew Brown, managing director of giant, says: “The private sector recovery is well and truly underway. The banking sector in particular is growing at the fastest rate since before the financial crisis and those same team leaders who were told to let contractors go at the start of the recession are being instructed to start hiring again.”