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With all the pressure on the job market – the unemployment rate is hovering around 5.5% and, in June, nonfarm payrolls fell by 62,000, the sixth monthly drop in a row – you would think that IT workers would be feeling some of the heat.
But that doesn’t appear to be the case.
We reported in a previous blog that the IT workforce is at a record high, topping 4 million people, and tech unemployment is near record lows.
Then we came across a survey published earlier this month by staffing firm Robert Half Technology that found that more than three-quarters of the CIOs it polled were having a hard time finding skilled IT workers. Robert Half Technology said it surveyed 1,400 CIOs across the country.
CIOs were asked: “Is it more or less challenging to find qualified candidates for IT jobs within your firm now compared to 12 months ago?”
The responses:
10% said much more challenging
12% said somewhat more challenging
55% said just as challenging
9% said somewhat less challenging
7% said much less challenging
7% said they didn’t know or didn’t answer the question
CIOs were also asked: “What is the primary cause behind the challenge in finding workers for IT jobs within your company?”
52% said a shortage of qualified IT workers
28% said the inability to offer competitive compensation
10% said the inability to offer career advancement opportunities
4% gave another answer
6% said they didn’t know or didn’t answer the question
“Despite economic uncertainty and a more competitive job market, there are still talent shortages in certain IT specialties, such as applications development, Web development and network administration,” Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, said in a statement that was released with the results.
And there might be more good news for IT workers as the principles of supply and demand kick in.
“Employers are struggling to find the most qualified candidates,” said Spencer Lee, “and some are more willing to negotiate higher compensation to get them on board.”
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