IT Workforce

Australia: IT Workforce

Overview:

The total number of ICT workers has increased by 26% over the past five years, from 268,700 in 1998 to 337,500 in 2002. ICT workers comprised 3.6% of all employed persons in 2002, compared with 3.1% in 1998. About half of these workers were computing professionals. To further to promotion of a highly skilled ICT workforce, the Commonwealth announced in 2001 the Innovation Action Plan to pursue excellence in research, science and technology.

Employment in ICT occupations:

The following table shows, for 1998 to 2002, the number of persons employed in ICT occupations and the number of all employed persons. Data shown are annual averages.

EMPLOYED PERSONS, ICT occupation groups—total ICT workers and total employed—1998 to 2002 [45]

		1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
		'000	'000	'000	'000	'000

Computing professionals and technicians
	Information technology managers	15.4	15.0	17.9	29.0	29.7
	Computing professionals	132.1	141.0	150.8	162.9	174.3
	Computing support technicians	16.8	24.6	25.9	30.0	30.8
	Total	164.3	180.7	194.6	221.9	234.8
Electronic engineers/technicians and communication technicians
	Electrical and electronics engineers	24.1	27.2	25.2	24.8	25.5
	Electronic engineering associate professionals	15.4	15.6	16.8	16.1	14.5
	Electronic and office equipment tradespersons	34.6	33.9	37.4	32.7	36.9
	Communications tradespersons	27.8	28.8	27.3	24.9	22.9
	Electrical and telecommunications trades assistants	2.4	2.3	3.2	2.7	2.8
	Total	104.4	107.9	109.8	101.1	102.7
Total ICT workers		268.7	288.5	304.4	323.0	337.5
Total employed		8,553.1	8,747.4	9,009.4	9,123.9	9,311.4
Proportion of total employed that are ICT workers (%)		3.1	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.6

In 2002, about half of all ICT workers (52%) were computing professionals, a grouping which covers system managers, designers, programmers and auditors, software designers, and applications and analyst programmers. Growth in ICT employment was strongest for computing professionals and technicians. The number of persons in these occupation groups increased by 43%, from 164,300 in 1998 to 234,800 in 2002. In comparison, the number of persons employed as electronic engineers/technicians and communication technicians remained relatively stable, declining by 1.6% over the five years to 2002 (from 104,400 to 102,700). In 2002, 85% of all ICT workers were men, which is a considerably higher proportion than that of all employed persons (56%). The proportion of men is highest in electronic engineers/technicians and communication technician occupations. In 2002, 97% of persons employed in these occupations were men, compared with 80% of those employed as computing professionals and technicians. ICT workers tend to be concentrated in capital cities; in 2002, 81% of all persons employed in ICT occupations lived in a capital city, compared with 64% of all employed persons [45].

The Property and business services industry (which includes a computer services sub-division) is the largest employer of ICT workers (41%, or 136,700 persons in 2002). Most ICT workers in this industry (84%) were in computing professionals and technicians occupations. The second highest number of ICT workers were in the Communication services industry (42,800 persons or 13%), with 62% of these people in electronic engineers/technicians and communication technicians occupations [45].

Employed persons, ICT occupations and total employed by industry division - 2002 [45]

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) conducts ongoing research and analysis work in the areas of employment, unemployment, occupational labor markets, and regional labor markets including vacancies in the ICT industry.
The DEWR ICT Vacancy Index fell by 14.1% over the four weeks to mid January 2004, due to seasonal influences (the series is based at November 2002 = 100.0 and unlike the SVI, is not seasonally adjusted). The ICT Index is 8.0% higher than the recent low point in May 2003 and 34.7% higher than January 2003. The three Australian Information and Communication Technology online recruiting sites included in the ICT Vacancy Index averaged around 7200 vacancies in the four weeks to mid January 2004. ICT positions may be advertised on more than one site. The number of advertisements is an indicator of demand for ICT skills and not a measure of the number of ICT jobs available [45].

Innovation Action Plan:

In February 2001 the Government announced its Innovation Action Plan to pursue excellence in research, science and technology and to increase our already highly skilled workforce. Specific initiatives include [45]:

a) To increase the number of graduates in areas where Australia faces shortages, the Government will provide funding, over five years, for an additional 2000 university places each year, with priority given to ICT, mathematics and science.

b) To encourage lifelong learning and to help Australians upgrade and acquire new skills, the Government will establish an income-contingent loan scheme for postgraduate fee-paying students.

c) To foster scientific, mathematical and technological skills, develop school based innovation and build supportive school environments.

d) To enhance student access to quality learning opportunities and provide experience of ICT as a learning tool by providing funding to assist development of online curriculum content in schools.

e) To help meet the demand for ICT skills, the Government will adjust immigration arrangements to attract more migrants with skills in ICT.

IT Skills Hub:

Under the Adelaide Declaration, the key national goal framing Australia's ICT programmes in schools specifies that:
"When students leave school, they should…….be confident, creative and productive users of new technologies, particularly information and communication technologies, and understand the impact of those technologies on society."

A major element of the Federal Government's strategy to ensure that Australia has a highly skilled ICT workforce is the establishment of the IT Skills Hub. The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, and the then Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp jointly launched the IT Skills Hub on 18 May 2001. The IT Skills Hub brings together large and small ICT businesses with education and training providers to ensure that current and future employees in the sector are offered the most up to date and industry relevant training.

The IT Skills Hub provides information and resources on education, training, development and services for everyone involved in the sector - from users to suppliers, students to educators and employers to employees. It is a meeting place that links individuals and agencies with ICT skills, opportunities and solutions. The IT Skills Hub is an open community of people interested in careers in ICT. It is a rich source of information on issues, trends, events and other matters related to skills in ICT [46].

Education:

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is rapidly changing the way we look at and participate in education and training. To make sure Australia is positioned to obtain the benefits of education technology the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) is conducting a review into Australia’s Future Using Education Technology.

The review will look at the current uses and providers of education technology as well as examining potential and emerging applications. Innovative educational approaches will be explored as well as the infrastructure and expertise required for Australia to effectively use ICT in delivering education and training in the future.

There will be particular focus on the needs of Indigenous people, access for remote/regional Australians and how to best position Australians to engage international markets in education and training.

The review will be complementary to the work being carried out by DEST on the Action Plan for the Information Economy, due for release later this year. Work being undertaken by associated Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) and the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) committees and other key groups will also be complementary to the review[51].

Immigration:

NOIE has worked closely with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to streamline and refine immigration regulations for skilled ICT professionals wanting to migrate to Australia. Recent initiatives have placed Australia at the forefront of international competition to attract migrants with the ICT skills that are in shortage. The ACS has developed a specialized ICT Careers site as IT Careers.