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News, tips, and market insights on all things contracting.

Thailand DTV Visa 2026: Five-Year Access to Southeast Asia's Growing Tech Hub
News Tips Useful Tools & Resources UK USA EU Global

Thailand DTV Visa 2026: Five-Year Access to Southeast Asia's Growing Tech Hub

Thailand's Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is the most flexible long-term nomad visa in Southeast Asia and has become a popular option for IT contractors who want low living costs, warm climate, and a growing tech community without committing to a single city. But the tax rule changes that emerged in 2024 have added complexity that requires specific planning for US and UK contractors.

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IT Recruiter Q&A: What Every UK Contractor Needs to Know in 2026
Market Trends Tips UK

IT Recruiter Q&A: What Every UK Contractor Needs to Know in 2026

A London-based independent IT recruiter with a decade of experience recruiting SWE, Data and DevOps roles across Europe recently ran an Ask Me Anything thread on r/ContractorUK - and was, by his own admission, 'bombarded with questions'. What follows is an edited summary of the most useful exchanges, organised by theme. The recruiter's answers are reproduced faithfully; where context or FCJ commentary has been added, it is clearly marked as such.

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Freelancing in Germany, Netherlands and France: What Changed in 2026
News Market Trends EU

Freelancing in Germany, Netherlands and France: What Changed in 2026

Three of Europe's largest economies have moved simultaneously to tighten their approach to independent contractor classification. For IT freelancers working in or for clients in these markets, 2026 brings a more demanding compliance environment than any previous year.

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US Tech Layoffs and Contractor Demand: Reading the 2026 Market
News Market Trends USA

US Tech Layoffs and Contractor Demand: Reading the 2026 Market

The 2023 and 2024 tech layoff waves reshaped US corporate IT hiring in ways that are still playing out in 2026. The permanent headcount reductions that characterised those years did not reduce companies' need for technology capability - they shifted how that capability is sourced. For US IT contractors, understanding this structural shift is essential for reading where the work is concentrated and why it will persist.

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The Global AI Talent Shortage: Which Markets Are Most Starved of Skills
News Market Trends Tips UK USA

The Global AI Talent Shortage: Which Markets Are Most Starved of Skills

The global technology talent shortage has concentrated into a sharply defined profile in 2026: AI, cloud and cybersecurity are the three areas where demand has grown fastest and supply has failed to keep pace. For IT contractors with these skills, the shortage represents a sustained structural advantage. For those without them, it is an increasingly urgent reason to invest in specific upskilling.

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Will AI Replace Your IT Contract Role - Or Create a New One?
News Tips UK

Will AI Replace Your IT Contract Role - Or Create a New One?

It's the question that runs through every contracting community forum thread right now. AI is being deployed at scale, automation is absorbing routine tasks, and clients are becoming more selective about what they spend contractor budgets on. So where does that leave you?

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