Overseas talent in demand Down Under - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

Overseas talent in demand Down Under - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Kiwi confidence makes a comeback Levels of investment in New Zealand’s IT industry have now returned to what they were before the recession and confidence in the sector is continuing to grow. The economic downturn put a number of IT projects on hold, but many have recently been given the go-ahead. The result is an increase in demand for skilled IT workers and a shortage of suitable candidates across the board. New Zealands IT sector is now experiencing positive developments These developments include: Candidates for managerial and leadership roles are in demand for the first time in four years. This is largely due to the fact that more companies are in a position to make organisational changes and drive innovative ideas. Overseas talent is being used to support the demand for skills candidates, with companies willing to invest in international recruitment partnerships which improve the speed and cost of recruiting employees from overseas. Contractors are  benefiting  from consistent long-term IT contracts which employers are continuing to offer in order to complement permanent skills. It is not hard to see why New Zealand still holds plenty of appeal for many IT professionals. Aside from the beautiful landscapes and warm climate, this area of the world has some of the lowest tax rates in the world â€" unlike the UK, which has some of the highest. In addition, New Zealands recession was not as detrimental to the economy as the UK’s has been, and the country is already well on its way to economic recovery â€" something which can be seen to be reflected in the current jobs market. Meanwhile, everything from buying petrol to restaurant dining tends to cost far less, allowing individuals to live a more comfortable lifestyle, even when earning a similar salary as they would back home. Why, then, isn’t the industry in New Zealand brimming with suitable IT candidates? What are the biggest skill shortages? On-going skills shortages mean that employers struggle to fill mid-level software development roles, particularly those which focus on Java, Sharepoint, and web-based technology. ERP/CRM consultants who are experienced in using applications such as MS Dynamics and Oracle are also in high demand, as are IT Architects and skilled professionals with a background in middleware, database and storage technologies. This growing demand for skilled IT professionals throughout New Zealand is beginning to be reflected within staff salary packages. Employees can expect an annual salary growth if they choose to stay in their current position, or would look for a significant increase when applying elsewhere. As such, employers are also acknowledging the value of providing attractive benefit packages in order attract prospective candidates and increase retention levels. Would you consider relocating to New Zealand in order to advance your IT career? To share your thoughts on this article and to stay up to date with the latest business, employment and recruitment news in the IT industry, please join our LinkedIn group  IT Industry Insights.