Seven in 10 healthcare contractors expect to see their incomes rise this year, up from 65% last year, according to research from contractor services provider giant group.

The research also shows that long-term unemployment among healthcare contractors has increased slightly over the year, with 6.7% of healthcare professionals spending 90 days or more out of work last year, compared to 6.1% in 2009.

Matthew Brown, managing director of giant, says: “The vast majority of healthcare contractors expect their pay to rise despite the pay freeze for public sector workers. There is still a degree of uncertainty as to how the pay freeze will affect contractors. Whether budgets will accommodate pay expectations will be a key issue in the coming year.”