A new survey from Irish IT services provider Auxilion has revealed more than a third of IT decision-makers plan to change job within the next one to two years.
The survey, which was also supported by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, found that as many as 28 per cent of IT decision-makers in Ireland changed job in 2023, with more than a third (34 per cent) planning to do so within the next one to two years.
The research was carried out by Censuswide and involved more than 100 IT decision-makers in large enterprises across Ireland. It found that those aged 25 to 34 were most likely to change jobs during this time, with 37 per cent of this age group planning a move.
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In terms of industry breakdown, some 69 per cent of IT leaders working in the HR sector are planning to find a new role, followed by those in finance (39 per cent), and manufacturing and utilities (36 per cent).
In keeping with this, the survey revealed that a third (33 per cent) of all respondents have interviewed for a new job over the last six months and some 41 per cent have been approached by a recruiter about a job during that time.
Major Moves
As for what’s driving this trend, 29 per cent of IT leaders are planning to leave their current job as they are intending to emigrate. The 25 to 34 age group had the highest proportion of people intending to relocate (34 per cent).
Overall, 43 per cent of respondents are planning to leave their current job as there are not enough growth opportunities within their organisation. Meanwhile, 36 per cent said they were doing so because they needed a new challenge.
Almost half (49 per cent) went one step further, saying they would retrain in a new career or profession if there were no barriers (such as money, mortgage, family commitments). The 35 to 44 age group was most open to this (61 per cent), followed by 25 to 34-year-olds (45 per cent).
Alternative Approaches
When it comes to finding new roles, some 84 per cent of IT leaders have used a recruitment agency in the past, with 62 per cent planning to rely on a recrutiment agency for securing their next role. The same proportion (62 per cent) have previously done contractor work and 72 per cent would be open to same.
IT decision-makers also see the benefits of outsourcing work to contractors, with the most cited benefits found to be more flexibility (47 per cent), a short-term solution (46 per cent), accessibility to more skills (41 per cent) and more cost-effective (41 per cent).
Similar to those individuals looking for new roles, it seems organisations are also open to alternative approaches when it comes to finding new talent, with 74 per cent of organisations having a graduate programme and a similar number (70 per cent) offering apprenticeships.
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Niamh Cray, Chief People Officer, Auxilion, explained: “All of this movement creates huge demand and pressure on organisations. Such gaps also have a wider impact in terms of their ability to maintain operations, complete projects and deliver services.
“That’s why businesses should adopt a blended approach when it comes to talent, incorporating contractors and resourcing partners. With better planning and more flexibility, organisations can easily plug any skills gaps that arise and avoid a resourcing crisis.
“A more collaborative and agile approach also enables companies to scale their competencies as and when needed. In turn, this can create more opportunities and support business growth in the long-term.”
