One of the ICT recruitment firms reported that the Australian ICT industry is facing an acute shortage of 2700 computing professionals, adding to a looming skills shortage. In line with the data gathered from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Department Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), national workforce supply fell by 7200 employees in the July to September quarter. Companies were demanding 5200 less workers in the quarter, but a shortfall of 2700 professionals remained in the sector.
According to the findings given in the latest Clarius Skills Index (PDF), it became apparent that a possible oversupply of skills in the previous two quarters had caused the shortfall while Candle executive general manager, Linda Trevor, described that the shortage could have taken place due to the lead up and delays of the Federal Election on 21 August. As a result of the forecast skills shortage, IT managers have been warned not to be complacent about their staff, and advised to respond to staff needs in order to keep them in a competitive environment where loyalty is faltering. Additionally, employers are making efforts in direction to convert their contractual staff into permanent employees to safeguard their business, with a recent survey from Hudson ICT finding hiring confidence in the IT industry has grown to net 44 %, indicating employer's intentions to increase permanent staff levels in the coming quarter.
