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TEKsystems survey finds lower expectations for IT budget increases

December 02, 2014

IT leaders expect increased spending in 2015, but not at the same level as heading into 2014, according to TEKsystems’ annual survey of IT leaders released today. Salaries and hiring will also rise at slower growth rates.

Forty-five percent expect their organization’s IT budget to increase, down from 62 percent in the 2014 forecast; 39 percent of IT leaders expect budgets to stay the same, up from 26 percent last year, and those expecting a decrease rose to 16 percent from 12 percent.

“It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the reduction in expected budget increases signifies a need to cut back and eliminate important projects, but in reality, IT leaders are simply looking to be more realistic about what they can do with their resources and plan accordingly,” said TEKsystems Research Manager Jason Hayman. “Rather than viewing the decrease in the rate of growth of spending as a reason to eliminate projects, IT leaders can instead use that information to implement sound talent management strategies in areas that are truly benefiting the business, and they can allocate resources to solidify those objectives.”

According to the survey, contingent workers comprise approximately one in four IT personnel. Entering 2015, 36 percent of IT leaders expect to increase contingent IT staff, down from 46 percent in the 2014 survey. Fifty-four percent expect it to be the same as 2014, and 10 percent expect an increase.

Programmers and developers, software engineers and architects were the most difficult IT roles to fill.

The survey asked which IT roles are the most critical for organizational success. The top five roles included:

  1. IT managers (line-level)
  2. Project managers
  3. Programmers and developers
  4. VP and director-level leaders
  5. Help desk and technical support

TEKsystems polled more than 500 IT leaders (CIOs, IT vice presidents, IT directors, IT hiring managers) in October on the current state of IT spending, skills needs and workforce issues as well as expectations for 2015. TEKsystems, part of the Allegis Group, is the largest IT staffing firm in the US.