PHILADELPHIA, USA: Beyond.com, Inc., the world’s largest network of niche career communities, today released its First Quarter 2009 Career Trends Analysis and Industry Outlook Reports, which provide an in-depth look at the latest job market trends.

In a thriving economy, there is a higher demand for management-level candidates, but in a down economy many employers shift their recruiting efforts to attract and retain less experienced professionals that will be highly productive and cost-effective for their business. 

Outsourcing to increase during recession

While many employers in certain industries, such as customer service and retail, typically tend to attract and foster a higher concentration of lower-level professionals, current data shows that many top industries are following suit to tap into this segment of the talent pool.

According to Beyond.com, Jobs in Q1 2009 for Information technology industry have reported an increase in demand for candidates with less than five years of experience; and with more experienced professionals out of work, many seasoned professionals will be forced to more directly compete with this younger workforce. 

Economic conditions impacting worker behavior

“In times of economic uncertainty, employers are extremely mindful of expenses, especially as it relates to their recruitment program, to ensure that their business is able to continue thriving,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com, Inc. 

“As a result, many companies are focused on hiring front-line workers who can make the most impact on their business with the least amount of financial risk, further widening the employment gap that exists between the type candidates in-demand compared to the type of candidates currently searching for a job,” added Milgram.

Demand for freelance developers on raise

There was a 54.5 percent increase in the number of IT professionals searching for a job. The majority of job seekers had 5-10 years of experience, but candidates with 3-5 years of experience were in highest demand, added the press release.