High demand for Skilled IT professionals in New Zealand

The survey by Kelly Services has revealed that apart from shortage of highly skilled IT professionals, the country also has a great demand for those having expertise in communication skills. 

The survey sought views of hiring managers and senior IT specialists involved in different businesses in New Zealand and found that 71 percent of the respondents admitted that there has been either an increase in the demand for IT professionals in the country or there has been no change.

Steve Martin, director, Professional and Technical, Kelly Services, said that the labor marketplace has undergone a dramatic change due to the current economic scenario.

But, the IT sector is experiencing unabated growth due to new innovations and opportunities to help use technology for bringing cost-savings in the business enterprises. Moreover, the vital role of IT in the growth and success of businesses has been very well understood by various organizations.

The note of optimism is evident in the industry as the respondents of the survey expect an increase in the demand in the coming six months. 

Martin admitted although there is a great demand for the high-skilled IT professionals, the biggest challenge being faced by most of the business organizations is finding the candidate possessing right skills and experience to work in New Zealand. The reason is that clients have become very particular in choosing the staff that has positive effects on their business.

And it is not just the problem of finding the appropriate candidate for filling the jobs in New Zealand; it is also about the costs involved and the level of certainty of work that is bothering the business organizations the most.

Moreover, the country is not just facing shortage of technical skills but also looking for candidates possessing communication skills to fill the gap between high demand and low supply of such skilled professionals.

Mr. Martin said the organizations prefer candidates possessing dual skills of IT along with communications skills since IT professionals need to work in a team environment. Hence, nearly 30 percent of survey respondents admitted seeking the services of recruitment agencies to hire the services of such IT professionals for jobs in New Zealand.