Christchurch's IT market is heating up with wages spiking 10 per cent in the past six months, according to new data from IT recruitment agency Candle.
Candle NZ’s country manager, Troy Hammond, said Christchurch’s average IT salary had risen from $73,200 to $80,200 since mid-2013.
“A combination of demand for skills for Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild and a growing cluster of successful technology exporters has caused the city to outstrip both Wellington and Auckland which has experienced wage increases of only 7.3 per cent and 6 per cent respectively,” Hammond said.
However, he cautioned candidates that they still needed to be realistic about salary expectations.
“Employers are still very selective with recruitment requirements and salary expectations are part of that mix. Candidates with a salary indication well above market rates are unlikely to be successful,” he said.
According to the Christchurch Development Corporation, technology contributes about $880 million to the local GDP but there are skill shortages with some of the larger employers looking offshore.
“There is a broad range of roles on offer from customer support to graduates, ICT developers, engineers, architects, business analysts and product managers to CIO and CTO level executives.
“Businesses here are talking about the continued progress of the area in becoming the Silicon Valley of New Zealand with a lot of start-ups coming on-line, interest from venture capital partners and export driven growth in software products," said Hammond.
The new data coincides with the launch of Candle’s Christchurch office, which represents the company’s first physical presence in the South Island and complements its operations in Auckland and Wellington.
Candle’s new office is located in Burnside is headed by Alan Diepraam.
“Christchurch features a large spectrum of IT industry players - from government, small-medium businesses, publicly-listed companies and start-ups as well as some of the New Zealand’s most innovative and successful software, hardware and electronics companies - and it is all about growth."
“There is a real camaraderie of spirit in Christchurch and people are pooling together to help grow their respective businesses in the region. We at Candle are excited about being a part of that and to help employers and professionals reach their business and career goals," said Hammond.