Hays forecasts small salary increases

Project managers, business analysts and network engineers in demand.

IT workers may receive slightly larger salary increases in the coming year, as employers face the market with cautious optimism.

According to the annual Hays Salary Guide, 43 percent of employers are planning salaries increases of more than three percent during the next 12 months, up from 28 percent of employers last year.

The report was released today by recruitment agency Hays, which surveyed more than 1,800 employers in Australia and New Zealand to determine salaries and staffing policies.

With 59 percent of employers reporting an increase in business, contractors and permanent staff during the past year, the recruitment agency forecasts a return to the pre-Financial Crisis "war for talent".

Hays highlighted a demand for project managers and business analysts with "functional experience", as well as network engineers to take advantage of new infrastructure.

With the National Broadband Network, cloud computing, virtualisation and smart grids attracting national attention, employers were also demanding Microsoft development, JEE, Business Intelligence, Web-based, infrastructure convergence and virtualisation skills.

But Hays' regional director of IT Peter Noblet advised workers against over-inflated salary expectations.

"Moving roles at this stage can provide the opportunity to join an up-and-coming employer or a company that is emerging from the GFC in a strong position," he said.

"But jobseekers shouldn't expect an automatic or hefty salary increase. We still advise jobseekers to focus on finding a role that will add to your suite of skills and will offer opportunity with the right organisation."

According to survey results (pdf), CIO and CTO salaries ranged from $80,000 to $350,000 across Australia.

IT managers were paid between $80,000 and $150,000, and systems administrators were paid between $45,000 and $110,000.