Different industries have different workforces, and those workforces have unique attitudes and motivators that attract them to certain organizations. A recent research from Kelly Services on this very subject suggests that those in the IT industry have an innate attraction to innovative projects, and are more likely to expect a higher salary and benefits package from their employer.

So, if you're hiring in the IT sector, consider these key issues throughout your recruitment campaigns:

- Innovation gets their attention: IT workers are more likely to seek out employers with a strong 'reputation for innovation', so make sure you promote your organization’s innovations and advancements throughout your candidate attraction process—from the job description to the initial recruiter contact.

- Promote opportunities to acquire new skills: IT workers are eager to keep their skills relevant and up-to-date, so make sure there are plenty of ongoing opportunities to do so, and highlight this in your recruiting efforts. Consider a benefits package that offers support with new certifications in particular, as well as professional conferences or workshops.

- Build a community, not just a project: wherever possible, look to build strong “teams” to complete projects, and foster relationships among coworkers. Much of the work IT workers may do is desk-bound and technical, but they value their teams and connections with others.

- Keep it interesting and challenging: the key motivating factor for IT workers is the nature of their work—they want and seek assignments that will be challenging. They do expect to be paid well, but perhaps only in response to the value and complexity of the work they see themselves doing.

Government projections such as those from the U.S. Bureau of Statistics show that the IT industry (and demand for specific technical skill-sets within it) is set to grow significantly to 2020. It's likely that the war for talent in IT will heat up significantly over the next couple of years, so it pays to know what sets these workers apart from others, and to find ways to specifically target their interests.

For more tips and insights on the sector, download our full report about IT workers here.