IT departments are reporting difficulties retaining high-flying
employees, despite the overall downturn in IT recruitment.
A quarter of IT departments, in a survey of 64 organisations, said
they are having difficulties with recruitment and retention of
sought-after skills. Application support, development and system
support cause employers the most problems, the Hay Group survey
revealed.
Its findings show that skilled IT professionals are still being
lured by offers from rival employers, despite the insecurity of the
job market.
More than a quarter of the companies questioned are cutting back on
contractors, one in six has a freeze on IT recruitment, and one in
10 is outsourcing work.
But employers should not relax, Hay said. Of those companies that
are recruiting, about 77% are doing so to replace people who have
left their organisations. "Your most talented people probably still
have the confidence and opportunities to switch employers," said a
Hay spokesperson.
Of the companies surveyed, a third said that career potential, pay
and training will encourage skilled staff to stay with them.
But research shows that most people leave because they feel they do
not have enough opportunity to make use of their skills.