While we mix VFR and IFR ops in the US the dropzones I've worked at have always been mandated to stay in contact with the approach control facility they are operating in and announce the jump runs, etc. to the controllers. Controllers have always given me heads up about traffic as well.
That being said I know a fair few skydiving pilots who shouldn't be within 1000 miles of controlled airspace and take "in contact" to mean tuned in and muted on COM 2.