IT bosses keen to pay up

New Zealand's IT sector has grown by 80 per cent in the past 10 years. Photo / Herald on Sunday

About 75 per cent of Auckland IT employers want to recruit additional staff in the coming year, and are willing to offer further incentives to achieve this, says a report by Absolute IT.

The report said 51 per cent of Auckland IT professionals received additional work benefits including mobile phone allowances, car parking and bonuses.

And 34 per cent of Auckland IT staff received a median annual bonus of $6000.

Absolute IT director Martin Barry said this reflected a growing demand from employees.

"Money is more important than ever and the total salary package is becoming increasingly important to Auckland IT professionals considering moving to a new job," he said.

Read the report here:

Thirty-five per cent of respondents cited a better salary package as the main factor in their decision on whether to take a job.

Upskilling was also an important factor, 26 per cent saying career development opportunities were their main priority when looking at a job.

Barry said that employers had begun catering to this by offering further incentives.

"Auckland IT employers are realising their most important assets are their staff, and they're also their highest flight risk," he said.

Auckland is a core for IT in New Zealand.

It has more than half of New Zealand's IT employees - nearly 31,000 people in 6700 companies.

According to the report, the IT sector had grown by 80 per cent in the past 10 years.