IT seeks temporary solution to skills crisis

More than half of IT employers are hiring casual staff to deal with the current IT skills crisis, according to recruitment agency Hays 2006 Salary Survey.

The study notes while 53 percent of employers will hire contract staff, 49 percent will retain them over the next 12 months and a further 35 percent will build on current numbers.

The survey, which is based on 1700 responses across Australia and New Zealand, also noted that 69 percent of IT employers would increase permanent staffing levels - 23 percent ahead of survey averages (46 percent).

Hays regional director of IT Peter Noblet said the recruitment market is benefiting from a reliance on temporary workers by employers during the IT skills crisis.

"These findings demonstrate the recruitment market is remaining very healthy; employers are looking to increase permanent staff levels and the use of contractors is high," Noblet said.

"The reason for hiring temporary workers has changed over time - from solely short-term cover to an integral part of the workforce.

"The only cloud on the horizon is the skills shortage with the difficulty in sourcing skilled and experienced specialist candidates showing no sign of abating; however, employers and recruitment agencies are facing this challenge head on, developing new and innovative strategies to source the skills they need."