IT Workforce Will Be On The Move In 2017
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Data shows 37 percent of IT professionals will be job hunting next year.
Over a third (37 percent) of IT professionals will be looking for jobs in 2017 according to new data from Spiceworks. Of these, 64 percent say they are looking to make more money, while 40 percent say they want to work for a company that makes IT more of a priority.
This is major news for companies big and small who may be overlooking the importance of IT in keeping them secure and, in this connected world, afloat. It also showcases just how valuable these minds are — 70 percent of IT pros believe higher-paying jobs with more potential for advancement will exist in the coming year.
The 2017 Tech Career Outlook found demand for skilled IT professionals in 2017 is poised to drive major shifts in the overall IT labor market. While 37 percent of IT professionals say they plan to begin looking for a new employer, one in four plans to accept a new job. This could create a new landscape for the IT labor market.
The Spiceworks data supported the findings of a recent study by CareerBuilder.com which placed network and computer systems administrators among the hottest jobs in the US in 2016, with monthly job postings far outpacing actual hires.
While 64 percent of IT pros said they are looking to increase their salaries with a job move, 69 percent said they are looking to advance their IT skills to benefit their overall career prospects in the future. IT pros also said they wanted to work for a company that makes IT more of a priority (40 percent); find new work due to current job burnout (40 percent); and to find a better work-life balance (38 percent).
The Spiceworks Social Poll queried 476 IT professionals across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and represents a cross section of company sizes and industries. For more information and a complete list of survey results, click here.
“Businesses rely on IT professionals to protect company data and make sure the devices and services they rely on ‘just work,’ but many IT professionals believe they’re underpaid and their department is underfunded,” said Peter Tsai, IT analyst at Spiceworks. “This is leading many tech professionals to take advantage of the favorable job market expected next year and seek employers that prioritize their IT department, invest in tech talent, and provide adequate resources IT professionals need to be successful.”
The survey revealed that while 61 percent of IT pros feel appreciated by their current employer, 59 percent say they are underpaid, and less than a quarter anticipate a raise in excess of 5 percent in 2017 with only 12 percent expecting a promotion. This is countered by the fact that 70 percent of respondents think the IT job market to continue to be strong in 2017, with many stating that they believe the coming year will see higher paying jobs with more potential for advancement.