Recruitment & retention big concerns for CIOs

The ICT industry’s well-documented skills shortage remains strongly in effect, and could even worsen as more and more businesses allocate additional budget for new IT projects, according to a new survey.

Commissioned by accounting, finance and IT recruitment company Robert Half, the survey of 100 CIOs and CTOs found that 80% were optimistic about New Zealand’s economic growth in 2012, with over two thirds confident their company would be investing in new technology projects this year.

20% of respondents said they intended to grow their team of permanent technology employees, 72% expected to keep staff levels the same and 5% planned to decrease their headcount.

However, 57% said they were finding it a challenge to secure skilled IT professionals, and 55% cited retention as an ongoing concern.

Megan Alexander, general manager for Robert Half in New Zealand, says on average it takes over seven weeks to fill a management-level IT position and over five weeks to fill a staff-level position.

"With more and more projects being signed off,” Alexander says, "finding the manpower with the specialist skills to carry out the work is difficult.”

As the pressure builds, more companies will have to look overseas, Alexander adds.

"Though remuneration may not be as strong as what’s on offer overseas, candidates are attracted to the entrepreneurial nature of many IT roles in New Zealand, and are interested in being involved in start-up projects where they can be a big part of the business and see quick growth.”

As always, businesses that want to keep the staff they have will have to make sure their remuneration packages remain competitive.

"Now is the right time for managers who want to keep and attract top employees to put retention under the spotlight,” Alexander says.