Hays New Zealand managing director Jason Walker says it's part of a global trend as firms try to get smarter with the data they generate.
"Organisations want to improve the quality of the data they use and also reduce the volume they need to keep," he says. "Another part is looking for more analytics so they can do predictive forecasting."
Hays is also reporting are new demand on for automation test analysis, which requires a deep level of technical understanding than normal testing.
While smaller companies want permanent or fixed term staff, there has been a slight increase in contract management roles in larger organisations, which suggests that project activity is increasing to the point where employers are willing to engage contractors.
There is a change occurring though in public sector organisations, which are looking at spreading programmes over five to 10 years rather than two,
Walker says that means rather than going for a big bang solution, there is a constant process of development and testing as applications are being used.
On the staff side it means those organisations are going through a period of resource planning and a realignment of permanent headcount.
James Dalrymple, the Auckland director of UT recruitment specialists Robert Walters, says many large organisations are outsourcing their IT infrastructure.
This creates demand for candidates with cloud and web services integration experience.
That's experience you can only get on the job, which is the eternal dilemma for jobseekers.
Employers want experience, but experience comes from not only being employed but often from being in a job at the right place and the right time.
In roles like business analysis, "those with proven experience on large and complex projects will always be in demand."
"Candidates with experience in digital user experience and user interface design are also in high demand and low supply," he says.
"That's because lot of businesses are investing in ecommerce and enhancing their digital presence across all platforms - mobile devices and PCs."
Pay rates are holding steady, but with some of the larger corporates going through restructuring or belt tightening, contract resources are coming onto the market.
That means rates for project and project management roles may soften.
Dalrymple says this is the time of the year where projects are in the planning stage, with hiring likely in the new year.
It's a different market in Wellington, where large projects at Inland Revenue and Accident Compensation are keeping things buoyant.
"What is becoming important is the solutions-focused consultants particularly round integration.
"A lot of that is around technical knowledge but more so the ability to communicate that effectively into the business and manage stakeholders.
"A lot of the softer skills will be in demand that just having technical skills," Dalrymple says.
According to the latest Robert Walters's survey of IT professionals' pay and bonus expectations, 53 per cent of those surveyed got a pay rise in 2015, but only 21 per cent got a bonus on top of their base salary.
Next year 61 per cent of them are counting on a pay rise, mostly in the 1 to 6 per cent range, and 29 per cent believe they will get a bonus.
That's a reflection of clear talent shortages in the market and the fact candidates with niche skills are aware of their worth.
Most bonuses given in 2015 were worth 1 to 10 per cent of base salary, and were usually tied to individual targets.
Three quarters of IT professionals said they were looking to change jobs in the near future.
However, just 28 per cent of those said the motive was improving their salary package - 42 per cent said it's because they want to advance their career.
Robert Walters's Wellington manager Adam Barratt advises that doesn't mean employers shouldn't offer competitive salary packages, but that hiring managers need to outline paths for progression and potential training opportunities if they want to secure the best IT candidates.
Salaries in the sector rose sharply in the second half of 2013 and through 2014, but this year has been one of correction, with the median base salary for New Zealand tech professionals at mid-year sitting around $80,000.
