Training Toolkit

Council IT staff close in on private sector

Kable

Published: 24 May 2004 12:10 BST

Salaries paid to council IT staff are approaching private-sector levels, says new research

Local authority IT staff are closing the salary gap on their private sector counterparts, according to a survey published on 24 May, 2004.

The Society of IT Management (Socitm) research shows that council IT directors in London and the South East are being paid up to 86 percent of their equivalents in the private sector. In previous years it was about 60 percent.

Overall, salaries have increased by an average of 5.9 percent, compared to 5.1 percent last year. IT salaries in police and fire authorities are showing particular growth.

Fringe benefits and flexible ways of working are identified as important ways that local authorities can compete with the private sector.

The survey shows that 94 percent offer flexible working hours, 27 percent allow selected staff to work from home and 85 percent practise job sharing.

Andy Roberts, chair of Socitm's member services group, said: "Local authorities and other public sector organisations must not be complacent -- whilst currently they are able to compete effectively in the ICT skills market, they are likely to face a stiff challenge once recruitment picks up again and competition drives up private sector salaries."

The survey is based on returns from 140 local authorities covering more than 6,000 staff across five job functions. It was conducted by Computer Electronics Limited on behalf of Socitm.