HOLLAND – Sixty percent of the West Michigan companies Paragon Recruiting
polled in its latest survey said they planned to increase their IT staffing in
the second half of 2015 – none of the companies polled said they plan to decrease
their IT staffs.
The
semi-annual survey also showed three fourths also said they plan on
increasing IT pay, while half of those who are not hiring are also increasing pay
for their IT staff. As pay increases for technology workers, perhaps wages will
go higher for other parts of the work force. There will be a surge in IT hiring
only in education/government employment. Does this mean their budgets are more
clearly known in a non-election year?
Applications and support professionals are in even greater demand than in the first half of the year. All levels of experience are equally needed which makes more positions available to those who are beginning their careers. About 25 percent of the companies will be using IT
interns, but
which companies and industries continues to vary by need.
Outsourcing of IT work remains quite constant at about 60 percent of companies.
Local outsourcing will be dropping off somewhat; as usual only a few will be
going offshore.
“Our candidate searches have been at an all time high – many applications
developer, mobile and web positions,” said Paragon’s chief recruiting officer
Beth DeWilde. “Companies are more flexible with the level of experience they’ll
consider; it’s more about how a person mixes with the group and soft skills.
Flexible work schedules, challenging work and professional development are the
characteristics the technology worker is looking for. It is an employee market
and west Michigan is adapting.”
Twice each year, since 2003, Paragon Recruiting in Holland, MI, polls senior IT managers in the West Michigan market to determine what the future holds for IT staffing, outsourcing, and pay rates. Each forecast includes responses from about 100 companies. All remain anonymous.
