The number of IT jobs within the financial sector has increased dramatically in the first two months of the year, according to the latest financial services IT hiring index from IT and finance recruiter McGregor Boyall.

The research shows that permanent vacancies rose 288% in the first two months of this year compared with the first two months of 2009, while temporary and contract vacancies increased 270% for first two months of 2010 compared with first two months of 2009.

Laurie Boyall, managing director of  McGregor Boyall, says:  “It is perhaps too early to tell whether this trend is anything more than a normal new year spike but the increase is certainly more significant than anything we have seen in the last two years.

“This trend is typical of the early stages of recovery when the ability to hire on a permanent basis is constrained. However, the very sharp increase in the availability of permanent roles which is now outpacing contract requirements does seem to suggest an increasing level of confidence in the market.”