IT hiring set to increase in 2015
The annual survey on the state of the local IT industry has found that 2015 will be the year that companies commit to IT programs that have been delayed due to pressure on public spending or cost cutting.
"Australia's steady improvement in economic outlook has fed through to IT budgets, particularly in the public sector," Clicks IT managing director, Ben Wood, said. "This growth is due to an increase in projects that focus on digital transformation, cloud uptake and refreshing core systems."
The survey indicated a significant reduction in plans to hire IT workers on 457 visas. It also highlighted a reluctance to hire IT graduates, recording the lowest level in five years. Just 27 per cent of respondents hired graduates in 2014.
"While hiring demand is growing overall, respondents favour contractors over permanent staff. In fact, those organisations looking to hire permanents is less than half the level of five years ago," Wood said.
Business analysts were in highest demand, traditionally the first skill hired at the start of a project, Wood said.
However, this year, salaries are forecast to increase about 1.54 per cent, quite low compared to 2014 where salaries rose 2.5 per cent.
The survey was conducted across 300 organisations in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra covering a variety of industries including government, education, banking, financial services, IT, health, retail, telecommunications, manufacturing, transport and resources.
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