Australasian demand for ICT jobs

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) released the annual Australian ICT Statistical Compendium, showing strong demand for ICT jobs.

The report is a comprehensive analysis of statistical data about ICT economic and social trends.

• Value of digital economy in 2011 was $100 billion ICT
• demand forecasts 14,000 extra jobs in 2012 and up to a total of 35,000 by 2013
• University ICT annual enrolments down in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA & TAS

Alan Patterson, ACS Chief Executive, said the report confirmed Australia's urgent need for coordinated policy focus on ICT given its value and the demands in the broader economy for skills: "The digital economy contributed a significant $100 billion to Australia in 2011", he said.

"Although ICT demand is increasing even in uncertain economic conditions, the number of domestic students choosing ICT as a career is insufficient to meet demand for skills."

"Australia's Higher ICT education enrolments are under half of what they were a decade ago and are continuing to decline as a percentage of all higher education enrolments. With ICT demand of 35,000 extra jobs by 2013, promoting ICT as a rewarding career needs to be a top priority to ensure our developing digital economy is fully funded, sustained and competitive.

"Given the importance of the digital economy to Australia's economic prosperity, and its added value to business, health, education and other sectors, we hope addressing falls in ICT enrolments will be a key focus of 2012 government agendas.

"The compendium also revealed a drop in skilled ICT migration, suggesting Australia's ICT employment requirements cannot be met easily. To accommodate predicted demand, additional emphasis on local uptake of ICT is required," said Mr Patterson.

Strong ICT job demand is also evident in New Zealand, with 100% graduate employment for our first cohort of Engineers.