IT skills shortage? Yes, but you've got more chance as a chef

Stuart Corner
Monday, 01 December 2008 10:30

IT People - Enterprise

A new national IT skills index developed by Clarius, the parent of ICT recruiter Candle, in conjunction with KPMG Econtech shows demand for skilled IT people outstripping supply by 9000 in the September quarter. However, ICT ranked only seventh of the skills surveyed. The most severe shortfall is for chefs.

The Clarius Skills Index, which will in future be published quarterly, claims to be the first indicator that provides an index and analysis on the skilled labour shortage or oversupply on a national, group and occupation specific level.

The index estimates demand for IT people at 197,000 during the quarter, but supply at only 188,000.

It uses Australian Bureau of Statistics and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations data, coupled with "a unique model developed by KPMG-Econtech."

It has analysed the labour skills shortage or oversupply across 19 occupation categories for the September quarter of 2008 as well as the preceding quarters to 2001. It will be published quarterly henceforth.

It claim that, despite deteriorating economic conditions, Australia is currently confronting the highest level of labour skills shortage since 2001, and that demand for professionals, particularly computing professionals, is 2.1 percent higher than the available supply.

"The shortage of ICT-trained workers will mean continuing tight labour market conditions for computing professionals as demand exceeds supply," it says. But it warns that "This could change quickly as the sector is closely linked to the weakening business sector, which could dampen demand for ICT workers over the next 18 months."

Despite the worsening economy Candle says demand will remain high for certain skills. CEO, David Stewart, said: "niche areas such as .Net, Java, project managers, business analysts, SAP and Cisco are expected to remain in steady demand."