AUSTRALIA IN 2013 THERE WERE 598000 ICT PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY AND GOOD NEWS IS THAT HIRING MARKET ENJOY MODEST RECOVERY BY 8% AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN THE DOLDRUMS BUT EACH VACANCY ATTRACTING MORE THAN 35 APPLICATIONS More candidates than ever for every IT job is good news for the sector, according to recruiters who see it as a sign the technology hiring market continues to enjoy a modest recovery after several years in the doldrums. Paul Barbaro, executive general manager of Candle, the technology recruitment arm of listed employment firm Clarius, said its average number of applications per job in the half year to June 2014 was up eight per cent on the same period in 2013. The Department of Employments latest Skills Shortage Statistical Summary released in July revealed strong competition from qualified applicants for professional jobs, with each vacancy attracting more than 35 applications. Meanwhile applications for 457 visas for information media and telecoms workers - regularly cited by the industry as vital to plug skills shortages - dropped to 5650 for the 2014 financial year, down 21 per cent on 2013 figures. Far from being bad news for those in the hiring line, Mr Barbaro said a greater volume of applications was a sign information and communications technology professionals had regained confidence in the market and were prepared to leave safe perches after a period of sitting tight. Following a contract-led recovery in the first half of the calendar year, we expect, and are seeing early signs of an uplift in permanent hiring for the remainder of 2014, he said. Peoplebank CEO Peter Acheson shares his optimism. He said the firm had tracked rising demand since January and had noted a further lift in available opportunities for ICT professionals in July. Along with this rising market, we expect to see a rise in workforce participation as ICT professionals look to gain a toehold or their next opportunity and on the back of that optimism more applicants for available roles, Mr Acheson said. Improving conditions were likely to result in a greater number of 457 visa applications in 2015, as organisations found it harder to find in-demand skills locally, he added. But those at the bottom of the ladder and those aiming for the top should hold the champagne, according to Ambition Technology managing director Andy Cross who said competition for entry level and executive roles remains fierce. Many project managers and senior executives who had left positions in the past five years had since spent extended periods out of work and were prepared to accept lower level work for less money, Mr Cross said. We see some senior people now who are still not finding what they would class as their niche jobs. Senior roles typically attracted dozens of applicants, 90 per cent of whom have been paid more in the past and had bigger roles, he said. Entry-level roles, such as help desk positions, usually received close to 60 applications if advertised for a week, he added. Thats not an uncommon number in response to first job opportunities. Its a scramble at the top and the bottom. There were around 598,000 ICT workers in Australia in 2013, according to the Australian Computer Societys calculations.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 07:12:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015