Broadband Network will spur jobs

By Cara Jenkin

A jobs boom, led by one of the nation’s biggest infrastructure projects, is predicted this year for the information technology industry in South Australia.
 
The rollout of the National Broadband Network will need project managers, business analysts, senior developers and engineers, programmers and computer analysts. The next round is scheduled to get under way in the next six months

Hays regional director in SA Lisa Morris says the IT sector is “bracing itself”’ for the impact of the rollout and the strain that will place on the availability of talent.

“We are now meeting with employers who honestly believe they will not be able to find the IT skills they need in Australia as a result of the NBN,” she says.  “The NBN is also expected to push up contract rates in IT in response to the shortage of skills. While an influx of overseas skilled professionals is expected to help ease demand, the natural consequence of rising contract rates is that people will leave a permanent role to take advantage.”

Talent2 SA general manager Laura Mabikafola predicts “a fair bit of movement” in IT this year as existing workers change jobs and new recruits are hired.

“It’s definitely going to be a growth market for this year,” she says.

Axios IT general manager Matt Larwood says it is likely to recruit new workers in 2011. He says much of the growth in IT is being driven by business, which is being forced by consumers to provide more technological services.

“They need to continue to move forward to make the business more efficient and generate more revenue streams using online,” he says. “The momentum in business is driving the increase demand for technology. IT grew out of people working it out for themselves but  I think, more and more these days, formal qualifications are what people will need to have up their sleeve as well as experience, too.”

The Advertiser, January 22, 2011.