Recruiters are reporting an increase in demand for the IT Infrastructure Library qualification which ensures best practice in IT service management and delivery, as clients attempt to cut costs.

David Atkins, business manager at Hays Information Technology, told Recruiter: “It is definitely an up and coming area. It is important now, whereas three or four years ago you would not have heard of it.”

The qualification has the potential to boost contractor earnings. A study, by IT service management  provider Axios Systems and IT recruiter Globe One, found ITIL can increase an IT professional’s earnings by up to 40%.

Matthew Wheeler, corporate account director at IT recruiter Globe One, told Recruiter companies looking to cut costs through business process changes are looking for contractors with these skills.

“Any employer that is implementing any kind of service management change or business process change will always prefer an ITIL qualification.”