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IT skills availability less thanks to NBN: report

Expansion of NBN Co has ‘placed pressure’ on number of available staff

Shortages in business analysts and IT support staff have emerged with the expansion of NBN Co being blamed as a contributing factor.

The claims come from the June quarter of the Clarius Skills Index which was released this week, and is based on data from the ABS and Department of Education and Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

General manager of IT recruitment company Candle, Linda Trevor, said market factors have had an impact across the board.

“The expansion of NBN Co has certainly placed pressure on the availability of ICT professionals, both directly and indirectly. This is particularly apparent in Victoria, where some of the major banks are ramping up their activity around NBN and as a result, creating demand for business analysts,” Trevor said.

The index measures underlying demand and supply of skilled labour in Australia, and had a reading of 100.2, indicating there is equal tension between labour supply and demand. During times of labour market tightness, when employers experience difficulty finding appropriately skilled employees, the index is greater than 100.

The index is the only measure of underlying demand and supply of skilled labour in Australia and shows there are 319 skilled ICT personnel available for hire, when three months ago there were 1525.

Trevor said the findings indicate a lack of flexibility from employers in regards to wages.

“While IT contractors took pay cuts last year, this year they are looking for a 5 to 10 per cent increase in wages to claw back the lost income, this is particularly the case in the Queensland market. On the other hand, the pickup in demand for business analysts has meant wages for this occupation is on the rise. The wages of SAP specialists and niche IT occupations also remain high,” she said.

The news comes as a report released last month indicates IT employer confidence is on the rise for the fifth consecutive quarter.

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: ABS, Candle, SAP
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Tags: abs, Candle ICT, Clarius, clarius skills index, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), ICT skills shortage, nbn co, NBN
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