"There absolutely are pay-packet incentives from [completing certifications] - I became a MCSE to get a [pay] increase of several thousand dollars," he said.

"The course was gruelling but I believe I met the bar [and] have been rewarded for it." Hewitt said the benefits swing both ways for business and employees.

"Those companies where there is a direct correlation between getting an increased pay packet and acquiring a certification can turn around and say [to the market] they employ 'X-amount' of [certified] professionals," he said.

"Readify pays for employees to sit relevant certifications once [so] if they reattempt the employee pays [which] basically this stops people trying over and over."

Robin Habgood, sales director for Oracle partner Attain IT recognized the correlation between higher pay for better qualified employees, but said having certifications company-funded is also an incentive.