Professor Mary O'Kane Vice - Chancellor of Adelaide ... - WITSA

Professor Mary O'KaneVice - Chancellor of AdelaideUniversityPresentation to WITSA March 9, 2001IT Workforce & Skills Issues in Australia

The IT & T industry is characterised by:• large vacancy flows• constantly changing skill requirements• high turnover of labour

IT & T skills requirements(some general observations, cont’d)• Asia-Pacific governments have emphasised IT&Tworkforce planning (cf. India, Singapore, Malaysia,Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand)• Many governments have skilled-worker migrationprograms or programs to attract nationals workingabroad to return in order to meet IT&T industry needs• Many students who study outside their home countriesdo so in order to obtain IT&T qualifications

In 1999 there were 360,000 employed in Australian IT&TGrowth from 1999:1 year 3 years 5 years+31,460 +89,308 +180,190Demand forecasts by qualification:in 1 year in 3 years in 5 yearsHigher education 14,232 44,135 88,979VET or equivalent 9,768 27,135 56,617No formal ITqualifications7,460 18,038 34,594

Generic skills sought in IT&T workers• Relevant technicalknowledge• High adaptability to newknowledge, techniques orproducts• Ability to deliver businesssolutions• General business acumen• Project management skills• Sensitivity to customerneeds and meetingdeadlines• Client consulting skills• Ability to work as part of ateam• High level communicationskills• Personal presentation• Sales and marketing skills

The two most common weaknesses inthe characteristics of applicants forIT&T positions are:• insufficient experience• lack of broader business skills

The areas of current IT&T work instrongest demand in Australia are:• client / server applications• internet and multi-media• database management systems• system software and support• process / systems management / consulting• office / e-mail / groupware• networking• LAN administration• IT&T educators and academics

The three fastest growing areas ofIT&T activity in Australia in terms ofprojected growth rates in employeedemand over 1999-2004 are:• internet services and support - 178% growth• multi-media content development - 171% growth• services consulting - 131% growth

Positions which are expected to be themost difficult to fill in Australia over thenext three years are:Systems architects 64%IT strategists 54%Database administrators 39%Services consultants 37%Business analysts 35%Percent who expect positionswill be very difficult to fill

Major reports on IT&T skills:Unmet Demand for Information Technology andTelecommunications Courses (January 2001)Prepared by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) for theCommonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA)Future Demand for IT&T Skills in Australia,1999-2004 (May 1999)National Office for the Information Economy, IT&T Skills Task ForceSkill Shortages in Australia’s IT&T Industries(December 1998)National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE)