Buoyant IT industry allows skilled workers to job-hop

9 AUGUST 2016

New Zealand's buoyant IT industry allows skilled workers to job-hop

More than fifty percent of New Zealanders working in technology and digital jobs are planning to change jobs within the next 12 months, reveals the Global Attract New Zealand IT Recruitment Market Insights & Salary Guide*.

The research shows that, on average, 60% of workers across five key job fields; DevOps and Infrastructure, Financial Services,IT Executive, Software Development, Testing and QA, and Project Management, intend to look for a new role in the next year.

The Guide, released by specialist technology and digital recruitment company Global Attract, reinforces that demand for talent is still outstripping supply, says Dave Newick, Director of Experis and Global Attract New Zealand.

Newick says New Zealand is a breeding ground for innovation and skilled workers have confidence in the local tech industry and are willing to change roles frequently.

“The New Zealand IT Recruitment Market Insights & Salary Guide shows the main reasons for job-hopping include a lack of training and a lack of flexible benefits. The desire for more annual leave, flexible working arrangements and an enticing annual bonus scheme are also factors behind the movement.

“Employers need to be smarter about training, recruitment and retention strategies for contractors and permanent staff to avoid and fill voids as skilled workers move around from one job to another”, says Newick.

The report also indicates that, on average, 22% of those surveyed have not undergone any formal training relating to their role.

Those most likely to look for another role work in Project Management; 73% of that talent intend to change jobs in the next year. High demand and lack of supply of skilled workers in this sector are driving contractor growth and mobility.

“We are seeing a significant shortage of project managers and business analysts with Cloud and Digital experience. Forecast growth in this field and skill shortages will push contracting rates and salaries up, forcing employers to look offshore to fill roles,” says Newick.

The DevOps and Infrastructure arena also remains buoyant, with 59% of those surveyed indicating they intend to change jobs in the next year. While this is a growing industry, 27% of candidates have never undergone formal training related to their role.

In the Software Development, Testing and QA space, sentiment is similar; 56% of professionals intend to change jobs within the next 12 months.

In the IT Executive sector, 69% of respondents are either “very” or “fairly” satisfied in their roles, and 54% will be looking to change jobs in the next 12 months. Big changes are afoot in the IT Executive field as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) role evolves from traditional technology manager to key innovator. Some 39% of respondents believe the biggest change to role of the CIO is a stronger business focus. A further 17% say CIOs are required to show how and where they add value, 14% think the role is more customer centric and 12% say it’s more marketing/digital focused.

The report points to a decrease in the demand for Digital Strategy and Execution experts, Chief Marketing Officers and Chief Product Officers as Digital Marketing teams are increasingly built on product, marketing and digital development expertise.

“Marketing and IT now sit hand in hand. Senior IT executives must keep ahead of digital transformation trends, UX design and areas where customer interaction is key. The need for staff with experience in e-commerce and Bitcoin is also set to increase,” says Newick.

Meanwhile, the biggest challenge for the Financial Services IT sector is attracting permanent IT professionals to deliver digital initiatives. The survey shows 18% of IT workers in Financial Services have never had any training relating to their role.

“Large organisations are competing with smaller, more agile digital businesses that offer a greater range of flexibility on benefit and projects. The key to securing the best candidates in Financial Services is to look at what workers consider important benefits – training, annual bonus and flexible working,” adds Newick.

*New Zealand IT Recruitment Market Insights & Salary Guide – 2016/2017
The survey took place on a pool of 720 respondents. This is the first time Global Attract has conducted a survey of the New Zealand tech and digital space. The findings include market observations of specific salary figures for all roles in the industry. To view the full results visit:www.globalattract.co.nz/media/global-attract/marketinsights.html

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