Solarwinds calls for IT personnel to be recognised on September 15 as IT Professionals Day

SolarWinds, a provider of hybrid IT infrastructure management software, has established the third Tuesday of every September, beginning September 15, 2015, as IT Professionals Day to honour all IT professionals as the unsung heroes of modern business. 

In connection to IT Professionals Day, SolarWinds also released the findings of its IT Pro Value Survey*, which clearly demonstrates the value that Singaporean IT professionals provide. The research outlines the value end users place on the IT department and sheds light on how valued IT professionals themselves feel by their organisations. 

According to the survey, most Singaporean end users agree IT has a greater impact on their daily work lives than the C-suite, with almost two-thirds (60%) agreeing that their company’s IT department going on vacation for a month would have a greater impact on their daily work life than if their company’s C-suite did.

The study also highlights the value Singaporean end users place on technology in the workplace over personnel, with more than four in five (81%) of Singaporean end users placing greater importance on the technology supported by IT professionals in the workplace—such as phones, computers and software—than they do on personnel (35%).

Almost three-quarters of Singaporean end users (72%) indicate work productivity is lost without the technology supported by IT professionals, with a third (36%) saying one day’s work would take an additional business day or longer to complete without said technology and 16% saying it would not at all be possible to carry out their daily work without it.

From an IT professional perspective:

· Three out of five IT professionals (62%) feel at most moderately valued by their employer for their unique contribution to business, with more than one-quarter (27%) feeling only slightly to not at all valued.

· Four out of five IT professionals (83%) feel they are worth more than they are currently compensated, with one-third (35%) saying they feel worth at least 21% more.

· The majority of IT professionals (61%) are concerned about job security, with four in 10 (42%) suggesting company leadership not understanding the importance of IT as a key reason why.

“The survey results demonstrate that business leaders and end users can do a lot more to show IT pros how appreciative they are of the value they provide to business,” said Kevin Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer, SolarWinds. “The technology we rely on to keep business running smoothly is absolutely critical to success, but the level of recognition and reward IT pros receive for the part they play in enabling and supporting it may not match it. IT Professionals Day is a great way to start levelling that.”

IT Professionals Day is designed to annually celebrate all IT professionals regardless of discipline. Whereas holidays such as System Administrator Appreciation Day do well at recognising one category of the profession, IT Professionals Day honours not only system administrators, but also network engineers, database administrators, information security professionals, developers, IT support technicians and all other professionals serving in IT-related roles.

“We’re very excited to be a part of establishing IT Professionals Day as a way to honour all IT pros for the amazing work they do to keep business moving at the lightning speed required for success today,” added Thompson. “When you think about what a typical day would look like for many of today’s workers without IT pros and the technology they support, it’s safe to say work on the whole would slow to a crawl or worse. Considering all they do, IT pros truly are the unsung heroes of modern business. So, on behalf of SolarWinds, thank you to all the IT pros out there. And happy IT Professionals Day 2015 and beyond.”

Interested?

Explore the full survey results, scope and demographics

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*SolarWinds’ IT Pro Value Surveys are twin studies done in connection with IT Professionals Day. One survey explores business end users’ attitudes and opinions about IT professionals and the technology they support to underscore the high value of the profession. The other showcases IT professionals’ general feeling of being undervalued to highlight an opportunity for business leaders and end users to show greater appreciation. 

Australia, Singapore, and UAE on top 10 for relocation wishlist

The fifth Global Professionals on the Move Report from Hydrogen Group, a leading global recruitment company, has found that the number of people willing to work abroad has doubled over five years (16% in 2010 to 35% in 2014), and 40% believe that there are no barriers to moving abroad. 

While the US and UK were top on relocation wishlists, followed by Australia at no. 3, Singapore was the top Asian country of choice at no. 7, and the UAE topped the Middle Eastern region at no. 8.

In key Asian markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, governments have tightened controls in job markets to favour home-grown talent rather than overseas executives, which favours the 'return homers' - those returning home after an international opportunity, Hydrogen Group said. 

Companies and countries are recognising the value of this hybrid solution to talent shortages, looking to retain these nationals with international experience to help develop local economies and stem the over-reliance on expatriates.  

City-wise, Sydney was no. 3 on the wishlist, Singapore was no. 5, Hong Kong no. 9 and Melbourne no. 10.  

Key findings: 
· Singapore remains the top destination in Asia to relocate to, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China 

· The percentage of people who want to work abroad has more than doubled from 16% (2010) to 35% (2014) 

· 27% surveyed were 'return homers'; 34% of Asian return homers were female, and 82% were aged between 31 and 50 

· 40% working abroad said there were no barriers to moving abroad, compared to 0% in 2010 

· Only 17% of people working abroad in 2014 have a professional qualification over and above a degree compared to 30% in 2010. 

· 98% of Asian respondents would work abroad again 

· 48% of respondents were likely to move on to a new country rather than return home - this figure compared to 38% five years ago. 

Simon Walker, Hydrogen Group COO, APAC, said: "We now have a worldwide talent pool to draw candidates from. The return homers are of particular interest in Asia, where countries are legislating to ensure their local talent is developed, retained and attracted back." 

The report was compiled alongside ESCP Europe, the university, with 2,444 respondents from across industries in 99 countries. Click here to access the report. 

*All images from the 2014 Global Professionals on the Move report