Ping-pong tables are great - but there are much better ways to lure sought-after tech staff

IRELAND’S ICT SECTOR employs almost 60,000 people and generates €35 billion in exports annually.

Nine of the top 10 ICT companies in the world are located here, and our indigenous tech sector is flourishing, with companies like Asavie and Movidius driving innovation and growth.

The importance of the tech sector to our economic success is something oft-repeated by those in government. Indeed, the reaction to the recent ruling on Apple’s tax affairs demonstrates just how much weight our elected officials place on keeping the tech sector happy.

Skills shortages

The National Skills Bulletin, published last month by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, states “the availability of IT skills is crucial to the Irish economy”.

The report notes that IT skills are playing an increasingly significant role across a range of sectors, with only half of all IT workers actually working in ICT (the others are mainly in industry, finance and the public sector).

The emergence of ‘hybrid sectors’ – such as fintech and med-tech – is also noted, along with the subsequent demand for advanced skills in what have traditionally been separate disciplines. In other words, and as we’ve witnessed first-hand ourselves, almost every company is now a tech company.

According to the skills bulletin, skills shortages are intensifying in ICT. As a result, and coupled with improved job prospects across all sectors of the economy, more and more employers are finding it difficult to attract and retain employees with the skills they need.

Urban legends

Against this backdrop, urban legends have sprung up about what life is like for those high-skilled, in-demand IT professionals. Limitless food at work, well-stocked beer fridges, Olympic-size swimming pools, free bikes and the omnipresent ping-pong tables. We’ve all heard the stories of the perks that techies enjoy.

But are these stories true? And for employers eager to recruit people with the skills they need, does offering such perks actually make a difference?

We have been working with leading tech, financial services and biotech employers since we began running networking and career events five years ago. At that stage, even in the midst of a crippling recession, we recognised these sectors had opportunities for employees with certain skills and, in many cases, had difficulty finding them.

Career Zoo

Since 2011, we’ve run two events each year and, over the past 12 months, we’ve also undertaken two surveys of professional workers aimed at uncovering the truth about what really attracts them when it comes to work.

Our most recent survey, undertaken last month, was focused exclusively on IT professionals. Not surprisingly – because of their in-demand skills and experience levels – the survey showed that tech professionals place less value on pay-scales than other workplace factors.

When we asked respondents to rate the importance of 12 different factors to consider when looking for a new job, salary came in bottom of the list. Family-friendly policies, travel opportunities, an enjoyable work environment, generous levels of annual leave, and flexible work options made the top five.

This echoes findings from the survey we carried out in February, again targeted at tech professionals, but also at those working in finance and biotech.

In that, respondents rated reasonable working hours, acknowledgement of work well done, and supportive and approachable management as the three most important factors in creating a positive working environment.

Both surveys demonstrate how highly mobile skilled professionals are, with the vast majority (80% of IT professionals, 70% of professionals across all sectors) planning to change jobs in the coming year and to continue moving from job to job in the years to come.

This mobility – and the global nature of the tech industry, in particular – is further evidenced by the fact that over half of those who completed our September survey hail from outside Ireland originally.

Google's office in Chicago

The challenge

In this highly mobile and globalised world of work, where employees relish travel opportunities and are happy to relocate for a job that suits their needs, the challenge for employers is to respond to what workers want in a meaningful way.

Free beer and pool may appeal to younger workers, or help when it comes to PR. But the experienced, skilled professional – who is likely to be in their 30s or older – may place more value on family-friendly policies and a decent work-life balance.

For employees of all ages, it is no longer enough for companies to just offer good pay and a nice office. They must also provide opportunities for progression, exciting work, and a company culture that resonates with employees, and matches their values and outlook on life.

The employers providing family-friendly, flexible work options and non-pay-related perks – in addition to the decent salary and nice office, of course – are those that attract the best talent.

In our experience, offering tangible benefits that truly impact on an employee’s quality of life is much more effective than the ping-pong table or the well-stocked fridge.

Jackie Slattery is the co-founder of Career Zoo, which will hold its 12th major event on 15 October at the Convention Centre in Dublin.

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