BRAMPTON - Is there an open IT position in your company? If so, you are hardly alone. A new study shows that there are currently 20,000 IT positions going unfilled. Inside IT the Future of Human Resources in Information Technology Review 2002 surveyed business owners in the GTA to gather insight into the shortage.

Four main areas were included in the study recruitment, retention, reward and future trends.

Recruitment expectations were evenly distributed over 52 categories. Among these categories the top three were Project Management (48 per cent), Internet/Web Systems Administrator (45 per cent), and Web Designer (36 per cent).

Compensation was named the biggest challenge in recruiting for business owners. Employee business skills and a lack of skilled talent followed this issue. Of the positions that are going unfilled, 60 per cent of respondents said that mid to senior level people are required to fill them.

Of the business owners surveyed there were an average of eight IT employees over the past 12 months. Of those employees who gave a reason “other” (217.5 responses) was at the top of the list. Compensation (43.6 responses) and personal development (30.6 responses) rounded out the top three.

The study showed that while 60 per cent of respondents had a reward system in place, these rewards are in line with what they are offering their other employees. The top three rewards were salary, flexible working hours, and an annual bonus.

Responses showed that there is a link between skill sets and future trends. Business owners expected the following factors to have an impact on their company and hiring intentions.

• Web services (95 per cent)
• CRM (73 per cent)
• Software Applications (68 per cent)
• E-Commerce (50 per cent)
• Broadband (48 per cent)

A full copy of the report can be ordered from www.shiftingfocus.net.

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