KEY POINTS:
Everyone in the IT industry keeps telling me how hard it is to get good staff to fill technical roles. You'd think then that New Zealand hardware and software makers, telecommunications operators and IT services providers would be paying a premium to secure the best talent.
Well, according to the 2007 IT&T salary survey from the country's biggest recruitment company Hudson, companies generally aren't spending any more than last year to get skilled IT and telco workers onboard.
There's been some upwards movement - helpdesk support people are obviously dropping like flies. A helpdesk level 1 worker who takes calls and offers phone assistance last year would have got a salary of somewhere in the range of $36,000 to $42,000. Now they're getting $38,000 to $45,000.
Service delivery managers and technical/infrastructure managers can expect to receive a little bit more, their ceiling is up $10,000 to $130,000 and $125,000 respectively.
Change management is a good place to be with all the consolidation going on in the industry - peak salary is up $10,000 to $100,000.
Network architects are still at the top of the food chain earning up to $160,000 a year, though that hasn't changed from last year. Elsewhere it is marginal increases for the more highly skilled jobs.
So has the skills shortage abated or are IT&T companies just holding firm on what they're willing to offer?
I definitely don't think it's the former.
"Despite the skills shortage in the IT & T sector, the market cannot sustain rising salaries to meet demands," says Hudson.
As a result, IT&T people are working less. Without big money available, they're looking to improve their lifestyle lifestyle asking for more flexible working hours - four day weeks, or for contractors, 30 hour weeks. They're also trying to get away from the office - sometimes permanently.
"More permanent employees are also demanding to work remotely, either from home or away from their employers' main offices, or are converting to career contracting, choosing short-term or project-oriented work offshore, the survey shows," says Hudson.
Where are remote workers seeking to shift to? Bay of Plenty, Hamilton, Nelson and Marlborough are popular spots.
So when it comes around to pay discussions this in the next few months don't bother asking for a whacking great pay rise. Instead tell your boss you want to work from home and have Fridays off. See how that goes down.
The tech blogosphere:
Aardvark doesn't need no education.
Geekzone on free Wi-fi at Esquires.
