New Zealand's demand for experience and higher skilled IT professionals continues, a workplace survey shows.Kelly Services, a recruitment and consultant company, surveyed senior IT decision-makers and hiring managers from New Zealand businesses late last
New Zealand's demand for experience and higher skilled IT professionals continues, a workplace survey shows.
Kelly Services, a recruitment and consultant company, surveyed senior IT decision-makers and hiring managers from New Zealand businesses late last year.
It found more than 71 percent of respondents had an increase or no change in demand for skilled IT employees.
The survey showed little change in the sector when compared to July 2008 results, where 80 percent of respondents described the effects of the IT skills shortage as moderate to severe.
"The current economic climate has dramatically changed the labour marketplace," said Steve Martin, Kelly Services professional and technical director.
"However, the IT industry is continuing to experience growth driven by new opportunities to leverage technology for cost savings in organisations, and businesses recognising the fundamental role that IT has in business development and success."
The survey stated that finding employees with the right skills was the greatest barrier to hiring, followed by cost. Companies were looking for people with technical and non-technical skills such problem solving, decision-making and self-management.
"As the traditional IT role becomes more dynamic, with tasks such as project management placing a greater emphasis on the need for building and establishing relationships, organisations are increasingly looking for IT professionals who can also demonstrate strong non-technical skills, particularly communication skills," Mr Martin said.
The survey showed almost 30 percent of organisations were turning to recruitment and HR specialists to find IT professionals, and 29 percent used the internet and online job sites as a complementary recruitment strategy.
"Online recruitment strategies using job boards are mainstream now, but it will be interesting to see what role popular social networking sites have in that process moving forward -- particularly given the obvious appeal for IT professionals," Mr Martin said.
"These results really reinforce how important it is for recruitment agencies to work closely with organisations to enable a better understanding of the developments in an industry that is at the cutting edge of technology and innovation."
