Hays Information Technology
JANUARY - MARCH 2012
Hotspots
As the banking sector recovers from the global financial crisis, companies are now looking to bring their technology up to date. To assist with these upgrades Test Analysts, .Net Developers, Java Developers, Systems Engineers and Storage Engineers are in high demand. To reduce contractor costs, some employers are looking to hire these skills in-house.
The telecommunications sector is being influenced by the confirmation of the UFB and RFI and major skills shortages are beginning to emerge. Transmission Engineers, Business Account Managers and Cisco Network Consultants are sought, along with Senior QA Engineers and Project Managers.
Overcoming skills shortages
Employers are looking to find these skills overseas as internal movement is becoming an increasingly non-workable solution and every organisation in the industry is competing for limited resources. They are using Hays GlobaLink to source appropriate overseas candidates to fill vacancies.
The coming quarter
This quarter will see an increase in demand for highly experienced contractors with expert technical advice to help deliver one-off projects. Employers were making the most of short-term solutions towards the end of the last quarter to cope with demand over the holiday break.
The market continues to look healthy and we expect to see new and permanent roles created.
Executive recruitment
We are beginning to see significant movement at the executive level and are helping overseas management candidates to secure work in New Zealand. Large strategic programs will drive the creation of Senior Program Manager roles.
Employer trends
Employers are actively recruiting from overseas but also hiring semi-skilled employees who they can train up. They are also focusing on existing staff in order to retain them within the business. Some of the more junior vacancies are being filled by senior staff. For example, Program Managers are securing Project Manager roles.
Salaries have increased slightly but there has not been any significant change in what employers are willing to pay. We have also seen some employers changing job specifications to attract a wider range of potential candidates.
Candidate trends
The market is experiencing a candidate shortage and as such many candidates are now being sourced from overseas. We are seeing large volumes of Project Managers coming onto the market who lack specialist skills.
Generally there has been a decrease in quality candidates although people are starting to gain confidence in the job market again and we have seen a noticeable increase in qualified applicants coming out from the last quarter.
