the Technology Users Association says the sector is still wading through a backlog of work which was put on ice during the height of Covid-19. (file image) Photo: 123rf
A lingering Covid-19 hangover is seeing the short-staffed tech sector work through a backlog of projects amid supply chain issues.
The latest annual report by the Technology Users Association (TUA) shows access to talent, security, and privacy were the top priorities for tech leaders this year.
However, TUA chief executive Craig Young said the sector was still wading through a backlog of work which was put on ice during the height of Covid-19.
"I think the biggest issue that people are facing is the inability to deliver and develop some key technologies over the last couple of years, because they've been so focused on dealing with Covid-19," Young said.
"So they have a backlog of projects and then are unable to actually get the talent or the resources to actually be able to do that."
Young said the sector had to balance taking a business-as-usual approach as it chipped away at overdue projects.
"The issue that they're facing is, how do I actually deliver to the business the things that they're asking for, when I don't have the people to be able to do it?
"New Zealand is a reasonably small market and so often we're finding that people [are] moving to another company because of better opportunities, and so therefore, leaving gaps, and while there have been a number of layoffs, they're not necessarily the resources that are needed in other places."