Confidence perks up IT recruitment

The depressed economy did not dampen demand for information technology professionals last year, according to a survey by recruitment firm Kelly Services.

The finding is at odds with observations from recruiters - who have said vacancies dropped by as much as 75 per cent during the recession, but the picture for 2010 looks brighter.

The Kelly Services survey of senior IT staff and hiring managers in New Zealand found 71 per cent reported an increase or no change in demand for skilled IT professionals in 2009. Fifty-four per cent of respondents who reported a decrease in demand believed that would reverse within six months.

Beyond Recruitment director Ben Pearson said the company saw a significant drop in demand for permanent IT staff last year. Demand for contractors also slipped, but not as severely. This had changed in the past three to four months, with permanent vacancy numbers doubling and contractor vacancies also recovering slightly.

The Auckland market in particular had kicked up a gear, he said. "There's a real seam of confidence going through the commercial market up there."

The hike in demand was not being driven by large projects kicking off.

"It seems to us that there's just a general loosening of the hesitancy that was prevalent last year."

Business analysts were among the most-sought-after. "That's positive; that means people are planning and scoping."

But recruitment activity was still a long way off pre-recession levels, with permanent vacancies still 50 per cent down, he said.

Kelly Services director Steve Martin said the IT industry continued to experience growth as businesses sought to achieve cost savings through technology.

Aspiring candidates will need to brush up on their communication skills. Survey respondents identified good communication skills as the most important "soft" attribute, and 26 per cent said communication was the greatest skill shortage in their organisation.

"IT professionals are required to work within a collaborative team environment." A salary survey by recruitment firm Hudson showed IT salaries changed little over 2009 but contractor rates dropped as projects remained on hold.

Seventy-one percent of 218 IT hiring managers thought salaries would remain static this year, while 27 per cent said they would increase.

Mr Pearson said the IT recruitment market was usually first to take off after an economic downturn.

Ninetwenty general manager Nathan Masters said vacancies dropped by about 40 per cent during the recession, but there was now a much stronger and positive sentiment in the market.

- © Fairfax NZ News