Computerworld

Lack of training and benefits fuel IT job-hopping

Significant portion of IT pros expect to look for a new role in the next 12 months
  • Stuart Corner (Computerworld New Zealand)
  • 09 August, 2016 15:51

Recruitment company, Global Attract, has revealed details of research that is says shows 60 percent of IT professionals working in DevOps and infrastructure, financial services, IT executive roles, software development, testing and quality assurance, and project management, intend to look for a new role in the next 12 months.

The 720 respondents to the survey gave their main reasons for job seeking as a lack of training and a lack of flexible benefits. Twenty two percent of those surveyed said they had not undergone any formal training relating to their role.

“The desire for more annual leave, flexible working arrangements and an enticing annual bonus scheme are also factors behind the movement,” Global Attract said.

Those most likely to look for another role work in project management. Based on the survey results, 73 percent of these 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,” Global Attract said.

Global Attract New Zealand director, Dave Newick, said: “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.”

Fifty nine percent of those in DevOps and infrastructure indicated they intend to change jobs in the next year. “While this is a growing industry, 27 percent of candidates have never undergone formal training related to their role,” Global Attract said.

In the software development, testing and QA space, sentiment is similar: 56 percent of professionals intend to change jobs within the next 12 months. In the IT executive sector, 69 percent of respondents are either “very” or “fairly” satisfied in their roles. Nevertheless, 54 percent of those surveyed said they would be looking to change jobs in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, “Big changes are afoot in the IT executive field as the chief information officer (CIO) role evolves from traditional technology manager to key innovator,” Global Attract said. “Some 39 percent of respondents believe the biggest change to role of the CIO is a stronger business focus. A further 17 percent say CIOs are required to show how and where they add value, 14 percent think the role is more customer-centric and 12 percent say it’s more marketing/digital focused.”

For some roles, the news is not so good. The survey found to a decrease in demand for digital strategy and execution experts, chief marketing officers and chief product officers. Newick said: “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.”

The survey found the biggest challenge for the financial services IT sector to be attracting permanent IT professionals to deliver digital initiatives. Eighteen percent of IT workers in financial services said they had received training relating to their role.

Newick said: “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.”

The survey New Zealand IT Recruitment Market Insights & Salary Guide – 2016/2017 is the first of its kind that Global Attract has conducted in New Zealand. The results are offered separately along with insights and salary guides for each of the roles covered in the survey: software development testing &QA; DevOps and infrastructure; financial services; IT executives; project management.