Australian skills shortage continues as lack of interest and high fees keep students from the IT industry

Last year was certainly a good year for Australian IT job hunters, with reports of 'skills shortages' peppering headlines across the country. Sadly for recruiters, the situation will not change much in 2007, according to this month's Biannual Labour Market Update from APESMA (Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia).

IT professionals now net in an average salary of $85,610, with increases of up to 5 percent in the private sector, and 3.8 percent in the public sector, according to APESMA.

For Liz Tay's full article in ComputerWorld, follow the link here.
For all the latest on current trends in the global IT industry, register with GSN now.

In response to Australia's growing trade deficit in ICT (see Get Somebody Now item for Aug 1st), the Australian Computer Society has outlined a series of measures to improve the situation. These include -

ACS suggestions for improving Australia’s ICT Trade Performance:

The Centre for Innovative Industry Economic Research Consortium has produced a report on the Australian software development industry entitled, 'The Australian Software Industry & Vertical Applications Markets ; Globally Competitive & Domestically Undervalued'. The report sums up the strengths of the local industry in these words,

'Australia’s main strengths in the development of software products are long-term experience in the field, compared to many other countries, and the quality of software personnel. Specific software industry strengths identified during the focus groups, included: relatively low costs for software development (compared to US and Europe), strong Unix and open source skills, multicultural workforce and language skills, well educated and open society, well established and representative industry bodies, competitive and discerning domestic market, technological leadership in a number of vertical markets, technological leadership in some software niches, and higher quality finished software products than world norms'.

The report states that the successes of the industry have been largely due to individual entrepreneurial efforts, with little assistance from governments or major players. The lack of profile on the part of local software developers is making domestic market share hard to defend, in spite of the quality of product they provide, as they find themselves overlooked in favour of inferior substitutes belonging to the big names of IT.

For a look at the executive summary of the report, follow the link here  

For related articles on IT Industry Trends register now

A new report for the Australian Computer Society by Professor John Houghton of the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies at Victoria University has revealed Australia's annual trade deficit in information and communications technology to now stand at $19.7bn.

Most of the deficit comes from equipment imports. In the field of computer services, the picture is rosier, with the sector showing a slight surplus and solid export growth.

According to Professor Houghton, the main danger for the Australian IT industry is its becoming isolated from global production networks. Maintaining a base for ICT equipment manufacturing remains a crucial means of avoiding this isolation. It is also essential for maintaining the levels by which IT users adopt the latest technologies.

In services Australia enjoys a favourable position, resting on its high educational and skills base. Maintaining these, alongside the communications infrastructure, will be essential if the industry is to sustain its advantage in this area.

For a look at the report's executive summary, follow the link here

For related articles on IT Industry Trends register now