IT Jobs: Higher salaries but not enough workers...?

Increased competition for skilled tech workers has driven up IT salaries over the past year, according to two recent reports, which also indicate that employers are finding it harder to hire the skilled tech workers they need as the economy begins to turn around.

Employers and candidates have the upperhand, it is suggested, which is driving up salaries.

IT workers in permanent positions have seen an increase by 5% over the past 12 months, according to a CV Screen report.

In a different survey, professional services firm KPMG found that overall job vacancies have reached their highest point since this time last year, with competition for quality candidates increasing, particularly in the IT sector. CV Screen also reported that the number of advertised IT jobs has increased by over 25%, yet many workers are still out of a job and declare that no solid employment currently exists.

While the KPMG report said private sector job creation is not yet sufficient to absorb overall job losses from the public sector, CV Screen reported that in the tech industry the number of applications per role has fallen by 20 per cent. These findings support a further study by industry body e-skills UK, which reported that there were more vacancies than applicants in the IT sector.

One reson for the increase in demand for skilled tech workers can be partly attributed to the economic recovery, obviously. Companies are having to increase their staff and if you want the best talent, you have to pay. Yet, there are so many out of work that are willing to take jobs for much less than "deserved" so there sseems to be a discrepency here.

Skilled candidates with a background in .NET were particularly in demand.

While many disagree with these findings, and I cannot blame them, is it that the key words here are skilled and quality? Current, certified applicants are what is really in demand.