This document provides a summary of key findings from a survey of over 750 IT professionals in Australia regarding workforce trends and the job market. Some of the main findings include: - Optimism about the IT job market continues to rise, with 41% feeling optimistic about opportunities compared to 34% one year ago. - An attractive salary is becoming a more important factor for job seekers, with 24% stating it is the primary reason to apply for a role. - Recruitment processes are getting faster, with 56% of hires made after one interview. Two-thirds of candidates lose interest if a process takes too long. - Counteroffers are increasing but most don't work, with only 25

1. IT Workforce Insights
Helping you make smarter hiring decisions
2016–2017
1300 CLICKS
clicks.com.au

3. Clicks has produced its 9th IT Workforce Insights Report, from over 750
individual responses to our survey in July 2016. This complements our
annual IT Recruitment and Retention Report.
Respondents are from a wide range of technical and management roles.
The IT Workforce Insights Report is designed to provide information to organisations who
recruit IT staff, so that they better understand the mindset of the IT job seeker and ensure
their employment offer is aligned to the market’s needs.
The report provides insights that can be used to enhance your recruitment and staff
engagement strategies.
I look forward to Clicks continuing its relationship with you over the year. Please feel free
to contact me at any time if you want an update, or if you need our support with your
recruitment activity.
Best wishes,
Ben Wood, Managing Director
benw@clicks.com.au
03 9963 4884
clicks.com.au
Introduction

4. What’s driving trends in the
IT job market?
Optimism about the IT job market has continued to rise, with 41% feeling
optimistic (up from 34% one year ago and 26% two years ago). Only 15% are
feeling pessimistic (down from 23% one year ago and 32% two years ago).
Consistent with stronger employment conditions, the majority of recruitment
decisions are made after one interview (56%)…
…and more job seekers report losing interest in an opportunity when the
process takes too long (66% up from 61%).
Counteroffers are also on the rise, but only 1 in 4 work out.
Of those respondents who are employed and not actively looking, 64% report
being “open” to pursuing an opportunity if approached.
84% of respondents report receiving a call from a recruiter about an opportunity
they had not applied for, and 33% report securing a new job as a result of this
contact.
For 24% of job seekers, receiving an attractive salary/pay offer has become the
most important factor when applying for an opportunity (24%, up from 18%).
The IT job market has continued to strengthen. We forecast this trend will
continue for the next 12 months. This means employers will need to compete for
the best available talent.
1
3
4
5
8
6
7
2

5. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 2017 3
Job Seeking Activities: Searching
How are you feeling about the IT job market now, compared to
12 months ago?
When reading a job advertisement, what is most likely to make you
apply for that job?
?
?
Sentiment about the job market
has continued to sway significantly
towards optimism since last year,
demonstrating a strengthening
employment market.
An attractive salary has become
significantly more important, with
24% (up from 18%) of people
stating it is the factor most likely to
cause them to apply for a job.
Very optimisticQuite optimisticThe same / NeutralQuite pessimisticVery pessimistic
8%2% 34%13% 43% 6%10% 20%22% 42% 8%6% 26%17% 43%
2014
2015
2016
Suitable responsibilities/
challenges
Attractive Salary
Hours of work/lifestyle/flexibility
Convenient location
Skills/experience you will gain
Employer/advertiser brand
38%
24%
21%
8%
5%
4%

6. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 20174
Would you move states for the right opportunity??
VIC NSW ACT QLD
No
57%
No
58%
No
51%
No
52%
Yes
43%
Yes
49%
Yes
48%
Yes
42%
How many times have you received
a call from a recruiter about an
opportunity which you have NOT
applied for in the last 12 months?
?
16%
None
8%
7 to 9
15%
More than
10
37%
1 to 3
24%
4 to 6
Did any of those calls result
in you securing a new job?
?
61%
No
39%
Yes
With 84% of respondents receiving
at least one ‘approach’ for a job
they have not applied for, and
39% of those securing a job from
an approach, one third of total
respondents secured new jobs that
they hadn’t applied for.

7. “Atif has made an outstanding contribution over the last
year. He has stepped up during some periods of staff
absences and ensured that key work has remained on track
and met all required deadlines. Atif has developed strong
and productive working relationships within his section
and across key stakeholders ensuing his work can be
implemented as smoothly as possible. He is an important
and valued member of his section and I would highly
recommend him for Clicks’ Contractor of the Year.”
Clicks ‘Contractor of the Year’ Winning Nomination 2016
The number of people who
have been job seeking
for more than 3 months
is 29%, stable from the
prior year (30%) but much
lower than two years ago
(42%), suggesting a stable
employment outlook.
If you are job seeking, how long have you been looking??
38%
Less than
a month
15%
More than
6 months
33%
1 to 3
months
14%
3 to 6
months

8. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 20176
It is essential to
have a clear ‘path
to hire’ process so
expectations can
be managed.
The stronger employment
market means that more
candidates are losing interest
in an opportunity if the
process takes too long (66%
up from 61%).
Job Seeking Activities: Interviewing
56%
1
3%
5 +
42%
1 week
3%
More than
8 weeks
3%
4
7%
5 - 8
weeks
23%
3 - 4
weeks
10%
3
28%
2
25%
2 weeks
28%
Yes,
once
34%
No
38%
Yes, 2 or
more times
How many interviews did you
attend for your current/last job?
Have you ever lost interest because the recruitment process took too long?
How long was the process from
attending the first interview to
receiving the offer of employment?
Over 67% of candidates will accept
another offer within 2 weeks of being
interviewed. As an employer, you want
to be in control and choose the best
candidate. If you are not quick enough,
you are likely to miss out.
?
?
?

9. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 2017 7
If yes, what was the reason for this?
Have you rejected an offer of employment in the last 12 months?
Job Seeking Activities: Offers and
Resignation
In a candidate tight market,
it is crucial that your
interviewers are prepared
and well trained. 40% of
candidates have rejected an
offer of employment in the
last year. Whilst money is an
important factor, you can
make sure this doesn’t happen
to you by clearly articulating
your value proposition and
having a recruitment process
with a clear intent to hire.
7%
Cultural - the
people you met
31%
Financial - not
enough $ offered
13%
I have not
had an offer of
employment
in the last 12
months
23%
Other
40%
Yes
47%
No
13%
Work/Life
Balance
8%
Limited
career
opportunities
10%
Unsuitable
responsibilities/
challenges
8%
Unsatisfactory
recruitment
experience
?
?
This highlights the need to
understand the mindset of
the job seeker. Think of all
the wasted time and energy
involved in getting 40% of job
offers rejected.
The “Other” 23% comprised the
process taking too long; the role
not being accurately represented
and choosing an alternative job
that was offered.

10. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 20178
If you have left your most recent role within the last 12 months,
why did you leave?
?
In the last 12 months, when
resigning from a job, have you
received a counter-offer from
your employer?
? Did you accept and decide to stay??
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0
Lack of career
path
Approached
for a new
opportunity with
another employer
Poor relationship
with manager
Low salaryUncertainty
about future with
employer
Poor relationship
with colleagues
0%
Counter offers
are slowly on the
rise, with 20% of
respondents (up
from 14%) receiving
one when resigning
from their job.
As this graph shows, only 6% of
respondents left their job because
of a low salary, whilst 24% report an
attractive salary is the main reason
they apply for a job. So salary is still
a strong magnet.
??
?
20%
Yes
25%
Yes
38%
No
75%
No
42%
I have not resigned
from a job in the
last 12 months
But counter-offers still don’t work very
well, with only 25% of them resulting in
the person deciding to accept and stay.

11. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 2017 9
Compared to 12
months ago, how has
your current pay rate/
salary changed?
?
Increased
Employment
Contract ended Contract renewal
process took
too long
Relocation OtherRedundancy
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
?
13%
Decreased
31%
The Same
56%
Increased
It is also interesting that, whilst
the overall climate is increasingly
optimistic, there was a significant
rise (from 7% to 16%) in the
number of respondents who left
their role due to uncertainty about
their employers’ future.
Whilst more pay increases have
occurred (56% compared to 46% a
year ago), respondents’ attitude to
pay appears to have shifted, with
a rise in those willing to accept a
small decrease in pay to secure the
right opportunity.
However, it is still
overwhelmingly more costly
to attract staff than it is to
retain staff, with 71% of
those who are prepared
to move requiring a 10%
increase to do so.

12. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 201710
What would it take for you to move roles?
What is most likely to make you happy with your position?
I wouldn’t move
5% less than my current pay rate/salary
5% more than my current pay rate/salary
10% more than my current pay rate/salary
15% more than my current pay rate/salary
20% more than my current pay rate/salary
The same as my current pay rate/salary
2014
2015
2016
?
?
5%
9%
7%
7%
6%
13%
13%
17%
4%
8%
9%
9%
30%
27%
31%
16%
12%
15%
21%
20%
21%
33% 25%
12%
10%
5%
6%
4%
3%
2%
The right challenges
and responsibilities
The right organisation/
team culture
A suitable work/life balance
(e.g. flexible hours)
The most convenient location Security/stability of employer
A strong commitment to training and development
The right salary
Strength of relationship with
manager
A range of career progression opportunities
The salary increase people would
require to move is higher across
the board, with those willing
to move for the same salary
dropping from 17% last year
to just 4% this year. This could
be due to increased employee
engagement, which requires a
greater incentive to move.

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14. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 201712
Gender Employment Status
My employer would keep me for life if…
Career path/
progression
Work/
life balance
More money Challenges Training &
development
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0
32%
Female
1%
Unemployed and
not looking for a
new job
19%
Unemployed and
looking for a new
job
45%
Employed
and not
looking for a
new job
35%
Employed
and looking
for a new job
68%
Male
About the Sample
?
?
?

15. IT WORKFORCE INSIGHTS 2016 – 2017 13
Employment Type Preference Primary Area of Expertise
Appreciation/
understanding
Good culture/
work environment
2012
2013
2014
2015
2017
26%
Permanent
Employment45%
Either
Permanent or
Contract
29%
Contracting
Work
??
Preference for
contract roles
increased to 29% (up
from 18% last year).
The relative importance of career
path, workplace culture and salary
have increased, and appreciation and
training have decreased, when asked
what an employer can do to keep
their staff for life.
Project Management23%
Infrastructure Support19%
Process and Application Integration4%
Infrastructure Development2%
Information Management11%
Business Analysis14%
Application Development11%
Other6%
Sales1%
Leadership / Transformation9%

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