I’m Leaving the IT Field: the Impact of Stress, Job Insecurity, and Burnout on IT Professionals

The information technology field has highly fluid, rapidly-evolving workforce requirements. The nature of the profession creates unique challenges and strains for IT workers. As a result, many IT professionals leave the field and seek alternative careers. The purpose of this research is to provide an empirical basis for understanding the determinants of career change. A theoretical model was developed and tested. Stress, job insecurity, and burnout are included as antecedents of intention to leave the IT field. This model was evaluated using data from a survey of IT professionals within a public-service organization. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The determinants were all confirmed, although age was not found to moderate any of the relationships. In total, the constructs accounted for 32.9% of the variance in intention to leave the IT field. The theoretical implications of this study are discussed. Recommendations for decreasing work-related stress, job security, and burnout are proposed.