Sandy Springs-based UPS knows about the challenge of finding qualified information technology professionals to join the package delivery company.
At any given time, UPS has an average of 70 to 90 IT positions that need to be filled in Atlanta and several other cities, according to spokeswoman Laurie Mallis.
“It is fair to state that at UPS we always have a consistent IT hiring need and it is always a challenge,” Mallis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
The competition to fill IT jobs will only grow in the first half of next year, according to a new report from Robert Half Technology. The recruiting firm said a survey of chief information officers in metro Atlanta reveals 18 percent - a sizable increase from the second half of 2013 - plan to expand hiring next year, while 65 percent plan to fill open positions, Robert Half said. Fifteen percent won’t do any hiring and three percent will cut staff.
IT jobs aren't the only ones that will be in demand in the first part of the year, according to the temp service Manpower.
Manpower’s employment outlook survey shows 20 percent of the Georgia companies interviewed plan to hire more employees. The vast majority will keep the same staffing levels and a small percentage will either cut jobs or weren’t sure of their plans.
In addition to IT, Manpower said job prospects appear best in construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, financial and health services and leisure and hospitality.
John Challenger of the Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said the increased IT demand isn’t surprising given companies’ push to provide more online-based services, and consumers’ increasing comfort with technology and conducting more of their business online, such as banking and shopping.
“That means more retailers need more IT people to build their systems, to upgrade them, to debug and deal with issues that come up when technology fails,” Challenger said. “As companies invest in IT they continually need more IT people to build and manage their systems.”
Robert Half Technology said 65 percent of Atlanta CIOs surveyed said their companies expect to invest more money in IT projects in the coming year, which is up from 58 percent in the second half of 2013.
The biggest challenge is finding workers skilled in networking, help desk/technical support and IT security, the recruitment service said.
Mallis, of UPS, said the company works with local universities to attract IT hires. “We are always looking at what else we can do to strengthen our IT recruiting efforts,” she said.
AT&T spokesman Lance Skelly said many of the company’s IT-related positions are in the company’s growing areas, including wireless, video, cloud services, big data services and mobility applications.
“We’re committed to education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiatives to help fill the pipeline with good candidates,” Skelly said.
Given the rapid changes in technology, Challenger said job seekers need to make sure their technical skills are “super current.” He also advises them to find out from interviewers, if possible, where their skills are lacking and get training to fill the gap.
“Sometimes it just takes time getting connected at the right time and the right place,” Challenger said, referring to IT workers trying to land one of the openings. “Just keep on trying.”
