Due to New Zealand's IT talent shortage and employers struggling to compete internationally with base salary, most IT jobs now provide a total package.
Absolute IT’s six-monthly Remuneration Report claims it's becoming increasingly important to provide staff with not only a secure job, but a healthy work/life balance.
As a result of the findings, following a survey of 35,000 anonymous submissions, there has been a significant rise in professionals across all industries liberating themselves from the traditional fixed work hours, credited to the digital age revolutionising the way Kiwis work.
“Employers are finding other ways to entice talent; mainly through additional benefits such as mobile phone allowances, health care plans, car parking, company paid training and flexible work hours,” says Grant Burley, Director, Absolute IT.
In Absolute IT’s 2014 Job Seeker Survey 41% of IT job seeker stated flexible working hours as the top non-financial benefit they would appreciate from their employer.
The good news is, according to Burley, it would appear employers are listening with 33% of IT professionals now receiving flexible working hours as part of their salary package, a 6% increase on figures taken six months ago.
“A key take-out is the significant number of non-financial benefits IT job seekers are now receiving as part of their salary packages,” Burley adds.
Up 18%, 66% of IT professionals are receiving some form of additional benefit as part of their remuneration package, compared with this time last year while there has also been a 3% increase in the national base median salary, up to $82,500.
There has been a significant increase in benefits across the board since June this year.
How the regions compare
Across New Zealand, every region has seen an increase in the number of IT jobs that include both additional benefits and bonuses.
Read more: National median salary for IT jobs increased by 7.3% - survey
Unsurprisingly, Auckland takes out the top spot for IT professionals to nab themselves some additional benefits, while Wellington offers the highest median base salary and bonus at $90,000 and $7000 respectively.
Public vs. Private
“When it comes to working in the public vs. private sector, it's no surprise that private companies are in a better position to provide IT professionals with additional benefits and added bonuses,” Burley adds.
Throughout the country, 56% of IT professionals in the public sector receive benefits, compared to a slightly larger 70% of IT professionals working for a private company over 100+ staff.
Burley believes the biggest difference is when it comes to annual bonuses - only 6% of public sector staff receive a bonus compared to 33% of IT professionals working for a large private business.
