news The ACS – the professional association for Australia’s ICT sector – has published a report that revealing that “major shift” is underway in Australia’s economy, as employers seek workers with digital and other skills.
The report, entitled Australia’s Digital Pulse 2016, was researched and prepared in conjunction with Deloitte Access Economics using new LinkedIn data.
A key finding of the work, said the ACS, is that, with tertiary graduates currently making up just 1% of the ICT workforce (cited as being 628,000 currently), meeting the range of skills now being expected by employers will require a bigger focus on retraining the existing workforce.
“This must include a focus on encouraging more women and mature age workers to pursue ICT careers,” the ACS said.
According to the report, only 28% of the ICT workforce are women, compared to 43% across all professions, while just 11% are older workers – 4% less than in the general workforce.
The report further reveals that, for ICT specialists, six out of the top 10 skills now demanded by employers are non-technical, and involve areas such as project management, sales and customer service.
Conversely, for 2.5 million Australian workers in non-ICT roles, digital literacy is increasingly required by companies and organisations.
“LinkedIn’s data highlights that a significant and rapid skills transformation is happening in our economy,” said ACS President, Anthony Wong. “Responding to this challenge will require governments, employers and the education and training sector to work collaboratively and, importantly, to reassess current approaches to both training and recruitment.”
“A clear message from the report is that our economy now needs ICT specialists with creativity, entrepreneurship and strategic business skills, whilst non ICT workers increasingly require a base level of digital competency,” Wong added.
Clifford Rosenberg, Managing Director for LinkedIn in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, commented: “We are already seeing widespread digital disruption across key Australian industries which is leading to skill shifts. It is imperative that businesses train their employees with both tech skills and soft skills required for the digital economy.”
Analysis of 25 most-sought after skills in Australia shows that 17 are technology related, as more mainstream businesses integrate technology into their core business, he explained.
“Our data also shows that eight of the top 20 skills demanded by employers hiring new technology workers are broader than core technical skills such as relationship management, customer service, strategic planning and contract negotiation,” said Rosenberg.
Also in the report is a prediction that the digital economy will grow from 5% to 7% of GDP by 2020.
John O’Mahony, partner at Deloitte Access Economics, said: “The contribution of digital technologies to Australia’s economy is forecast to grow by 75% to 2020 and, needless to say, there is going to be strong demand for a workforce equipped to support this growth, and the opportunities that will come with it.”
The biggest driver of digital growth will be increased use of technologies such as cloud computing, data analytics, and other digital developments across all aspects of business by people traditionally considered non-ICT workers, he explained.
Deloitte’s analysis also shows that there is significant demand for technical roles, including in recently emerged areas, such as for specialists in cloud computing and cyber security.
“The report highlights how information technology is becoming embedded in all our products and services,” said Wong. “It forecasts strong growth in the digital economy to $139 billion by 2020, an increase of 75% since 2014. ICT employment is also expected to grow at 2% annually to 695,000 by 2020.
The ACS concluded by saying that, “[A]s we seek to transition the Australian economy to one based more on services and knowledge and less on mining investment, we will only be able to achieve that if we urgently address the skills mix in our workforce. ICT skills and digital literacy have never been more important to our economic success.”
A friendly reminder the Australian Computer Society is as representative of the IT industry and the Australian Christian Lobby is of Christians.
+1
22,000 members is hardly representative a “profession”. Most of those members aren’t even IT people and they coddle up to the Liberal Party.
There is also a major conflict of interest. Migration Skill Assessment and testing 457 visa applicants.
I’ve been an “ICT professional” for nearly 40 years and there is no way I’d join this bunch of frumps.
I’ve heard that somewhere before.
I was having that exact same feeling of deja vu…
It’s the same rhetoric I’ve been hearing about the IT sector since the early 90s. I’m sure it was around before then, too, but that was about when I started noticing it.
A key finding of the work, said the ACS, is that, with tertiary graduates currently making up just 1% of the ICT workforce (cited as being 628,000 currently), meeting the range of skills now being expected by employers will require a bigger focus on retraining the existing workforce.
“This must include a focus on encouraging more women and mature age workers to pursue ICT careers,” the ACS said.
According to the report, only 28% of the ICT workforce are women, compared to 43% across all professions, while just 11% are older workers – 4% less than in the general workforce.
I’m not sure that the gender balance in the industry is that women just need more encouragement and/or training. I suspect there might be something systemic.
I sure as hell wont be encouraging my daughter to pursue an ICT career, any STEM path but ICT!!
Especially as many ICT jobs are being outsourced to India and other low-wage nations…
Exactly or filled by mostly useless 457 visa holders supplied by companies like TechM, Oracle & Accenture!
Don’t forget the thousands of engineers flooding the domestic market as their mining careers come to a grinding halt. I’ve been hearing about certified engineers going back to TAFE to start apprenticeships because they’re desperate for work, when jobs they’re applying for have over 1000 applicants. I personally know a couple of people previously on over 100k that have gone to the wall and lost everything because they were unable to get anything but a pizza job for 18 months.
I know some of those folk, I was nearly one of them but after 8 months I scraped together money from CC’s and family and moved to Melbourne and was able to get a job before the funds ran out, we are still recovering financially!
It was made even worse by Abbott’s May 14 budget + Sabre rattling over Sub building going OS + killing the car industry combined tanking the SA economy causing us to lose a big chunk of money on our house – If we’d sold 6 months earlier we’d have made a profit.
I gave up applying for jobs in Australia back in 2002 after being on struggle street for 2 years.
In my despair I eventually packed my bags and moved to the U.S. where I managed to get VC funding for a startup. Haven’t looked back since.
Currently I am in Australia tidying up loose ends then I will be returning back to the U.S. in May
Well done mate, I have a few buddies in San Fran too doing really well for themselves.
I’ve thought about going over more than a few times but having a young family makes it hard, especially as the medical services here in Vic are really making a huge difference for our daughter. I’d hate to think how much bigger the medical bills would be in the USA!
Derek O:
“Well done mate, I have a few buddies in San Fran too doing really well for themselves.”
San Francisco East Bay Area to be exact. Back in 2012 the head count of Aussie expats in this area totaled 10,000+ alone as well as about 60 companies headed up by Australians. Nearly all of those companies are U.S. registered companies otherwise you’re out of luck getting any angel investors or VCs coming to the party.
Most Australians I know left their families behind in Australia in pursuit of their dreams and later brought their families to join them after they had established themselves. Most of them now have Green Cards and have no intention of returning.
“I’d hate to think how much bigger the medical bills would be in the USA!”
I beats me why Australian politicians, media and general public are still referring to the American medical system as though President Obama had never signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) back in June 28, 2012.
The picture has changed completely as long as you don’t read right wing media fruitcakes and falsehoods from RWNJ politicians who don’t support it.
“I beats me why Australian politicians, media and general public are still referring to the American medical system as though President Obama had never signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) back in June 28, 2012.
The picture has changed completely as long as you don’t read right wing media fruitcakes and falsehoods from RWNJ politicians who don’t support it.”
@Snow my folks are living and working in the US currently.
US health is expensive and overly complex (basically so you can’t figure out how to get your rebates) they haven’t seen any change to that, so the horror stories really do ring true. Quality if you can afford it is generally better though.
Also greencards last 10 years with a single repeat (total of 20) and you have to then become a citizen or bugger off home. I guess if your start up has made it by then citizenship shouldn’t be that hard to get.
1. I became a US citizen as soon as I received my Green Card.
2. I operate an extreme profitable U.S. registered company therefore things can be fast tracked.
3. H1-B Visa requirement is initial 3 years then extended for another 2 years for a total of 6 years. Under the H1-B visa terms there is also the option of applying to become permanent resident depending on the wishes of the employer and a green card at the same time.
4. I have no intention of returning to Australia.
For medical insurance under “ObamaCare” you apply for private insurance with an approved insurer.
Can your “folks” read?
http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-law/read-the-law/index.html
Yeah right!
In summer 2013 and estimated 8.5 million received rebates from their health insurers thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which says companies that fail to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on health care must refund the difference to consumers.
Rebates averaged about 100 bucks
You are history when you reach the age of 35-40. By then you had better have a Plan B career move.
The word “Career” doesn’t exist these days nor does a “Life Time Career”
….Waiting for the bleating of “skills shortage” cliche emanating those greedy, dodgy IT headhunters….. (sorry recruiters) and the ITCRA!
http://www.itcra.com/
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