IT workers in high demand

THE ICT job market is expected to pick up towards the end of this year, industry research by Experis, ManpowerGroup says.

From personal uses to business functionality, technology’s role in society was constantly growing and this was shifting demand across the ICT jobs market, said IT practice lead Brent Leahy of the Experis, ManpowerGroup.

“Companies are looking to recruit IT workers with skills to help move them from the desktop to the cloud, to mitigate risk and to take advantage of new technologies that will help them grow in the long term,” Mr Leahy said.

“Overall, the employment market across IT has been relatively flat but stable this year. However, sentiment is shifting and the market will likely pick up in the next six to nine months.

ManpowerGroup’s Annual Talent Shortage Survey results found that 45% of Australian employers are experiencing difficulty finding staff with the right skills; IT staff have remained in the top 10 hardest-to-fill roles in Australia for the past three years.

According to Experis, demand for contract roles has become the new industry norm as companies move toward flexible workforces. This leads to a polarisation of demand where employers are either looking for very specialised candidates, or staff who adapt.