There was a 49% increase in the number of companies developing mobile apps in 2012, compared with 2011, according to high-tech jobs placement company JobInfo, on the basis of IVC Research Center data. The mobile sector is growing steadily, with 17% growth in demand for developers in the first quarter of 2013, over the fourth quarter of 2012. Most companies are seeking developers proficient in HTML5, Java IOS, and Objective C languages for iPhone and Android.
"Companies hiring are showing flexibility regarding app developers. They're prepared to employ people with experience and they are not insisting on formal training," says JobInfo director Sarit Malka. "Nonetheless, demand for the relevant education rises when a company is seeking to hire a developer for developing projects or complex products with features on the hardware side, communications, and information security. These jobs also require experience working with multiple interfaces, such as user interface people and product managers."
Salaries for mobile app developers reflect the labor shortage in the bubbling market. Developers with two years experience can earn a gross monthly salary of NIS 10,000-14,000. A candidate's experience and skills are the important factors for salaries.
Most companies prefer candidates with experience over a degree or formal training. There are candidates with five years experience and no degree who are earning NIS 20,000-22,000 a month. Candidates with seven or more years experience are earning NIS 25,000-27,000 a month.
Demand for Internet developers and web experts proficient with HTML5, Javascript, PHP, and UI/UX languages rose by 27% in the first quarter over the preceding quarter. Salaries for programmers and developers proficient in these languages and with up to five years experience are NIS 12,000-14,000 a month. If they have both experience and a relevant degree, salaries can reach NIS 20,000 a month.
Laid-off workers being hired
"We are seeing a rise in demand for user interface people, experts in human engineering who will determine what we see first when entering a site via different platforms, or navigating on a site adapted for each platform, and in improving our user experience," says Malka.
Salaries for programmers with 3-5 years experience are NIS 14,000-18,000 a month. Salaries for experts with both a relevant degree and more than five years experience can reach NIS 23,000.
Demand for hardware engineers was 1% higher in the first quarter over the preceding quarter. "In the first quarter, companies reopened positions, after halting hiring in the sector last year, following the wave of layoffs during 2012 by the development centers of hardware companies in Israel, such as Texas Instruments and Freescale," says Malka.
"Some laid-off employees are being hired by competitors. In a market where the supply of candidates is greater than the demand, companies can hire candidates at lower salaries, and we're seeing a 6% drop in salaries for verification and systems engineers with 3-5 years experience."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 11, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013