FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Apr 29, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) —-Ft. Lauderdale-based IT search and staffing specialist, PROTECH, released the results of its fourth annual IT Professionals Survey in which flex time and telecommuting tied total compensation as deciding factors in accepting a job offer from a prospective employer. The recent survey of technology professionals in Florida’s Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties had 544 respondents.
In addition, the highest share of area technology workers, 23 percent, said flex time and telecommuting were the best perks offered to them by a past or present employer, edging out bonus and paid expenses (each at 18 percent). Similarly, work-life balance came in second after salary as the most important consideration when weighing a job offer followed by stability and career growth.
“In the last month we’ve seen Bill Gates plead with Congress for more high-skilled visas, and the price of gas inch towards four dollars a gallon,” said PROTECH CEO, Deborah Vazquez. “It’s not surprising to see flex time and telecommuting gaining in value and becoming more dollars-and-cents issues,” she said.
Highlights included:
Salary Increases:
— IT workers reported an average salary increase of 12% over the previous year
Housing
— 38% of respondents said the downturn in the housing market and mortgage crisis had affected them
— 49% said they had seriously considered leaving Florida in the last year (down 3% from a year ago)
— The same group cited cost-of-living (39%) and lack of job opportunities (35%) as the major reasons
Leaving current employer:
— 83% of respondents said they would leave their current employer for a better opportunity – a decrease of 4% from a year ago.
“Flex time and telecommuting can definitely be deal-makers,” said Vazquez, whose company advises employers on hiring and retention in addition to identifying candidates for key IT positions. “In addition to saving at the pump and the dry cleaner, you gain more hours of productivity,” she said.
About PROTECH
PROTECH is South Florida’s premier IT placement and staffing company, providing search and contracting services across IT disciplines from development, infrastructure and project management to sales, marketing and executive leadership. For more information, visit www.protechitjobs.com.
