News >> In The Know
Skilled IT professionals are the second most sought-after group after those in the finance sector, according to the latest survey by online recruitment portal CareerJunction.
The growth in demand for IT skills indicates that a slowdown in recruitment could be reversing within the sector, which is good news for professionals.

CareerJunction compiles a regular index that examines supply and demand across SA’s economy related to the job market. According to the August CareerJunction Index, IT staff are the second most in demand after professionals in the finance sector.

The online recruitment portal says professionals with skills in finance, IT, engineering, fast-moving consumer goods, retail and wholesale, as well as manufacturing, production and related trades, continue to be in “high demand”.

CareerJunction’s most recent index indicates IT is the fourth most difficult category to fill, after placements in the engineering, sales and finance sectors.

“The information technology industry seems to be performing relatively well, following the economic downturn as job advertising and job search activity have been on the rise over the last six-month period,” it says. This is based on quarter-to-quarter results.

CareerJunction says the IT sector continues to show signs of “increasing demand for labour” after a downward trend between last November and May. Although the sector “boasts” a large workforce, software developers, business analysts and software testers are in short supply.

Executive director for jobs said in May that demand for IT professionals had declined 22.17% year-on-year, with none of the areas showing a significant growth in need for skills.

However, this trend seems to be reversing. Byrne says demand for qualified professionals is increasing, and the growing need is “good news” for professionals in the sector.

Based on the latest results, there is slightly more for jobs among career seekers while recruiters have access to a slightly bigger talent pool, the report notes.

CareerJunction says the local job market is showing signs of stabilising as the number of job advertisements are steadily increasing following a “lengthy” period of decreasing job advertising.
ITWeb’s salary survey for 2011, which included responses from more than 3 000 permanently employed IT staff across SA, found that 35% of workers in the sector love their jobs, but 58% are keeping a lookout for something new.

Some 41% of respondents felt their salaries were not competitive, although this was not the most important aspect to wanting a change. Quality of management, career prospects and how challenging the job is were all more important than salary.