Editor's Blog

Over 85% of new information and computer technology (ICT) jobs were filled by foreigners last year, notes a new report by the Australian Computer Society.

The report states that workers from overseas are now needed to address acute shortages of particular ICT skills in the short term, but warns that Australia needs a long-term strategy to deal with the skills shortage.

The report by the ACS estimates that Australia’s ICT workforce grew by 23,000 in the past year. Most of this skills demand was satisfied by foreign workers. Australia took in a net 19,600 foreign workers (including 13,900 on 457 visas) over the period, suggesting as little as 3000 new ICT roles were filled domestically.

ICT occupations with the largest number of job advertisements were: (technical) software engineer, software developer, technical consultant, security consultant, (non technical) business development manager, business analyst, and project manager.

According to the report, the size of Australia's digital economy is expected to almost double in the next six years from $79 billion in 2014 to $139 billion in 2020 (creating an extra 66,000 IT jobs). Local graduates however represent about only 1 per cent of the nation's existing ICT workforce each year. About 14,000 IT workers come to Australia through the 457 Visa program each year, making up only 2 per cent of the IT workforce.

Last year, one of Australia’s biggest tech companies warned that it will take its business offshore if immigration rules are not loosened to deal with the current shortages and allow foreign workers to come onshore more easily.

CEDA’s CEO Stephen Martin estimates that 5,000,000 jobs as we know it could disappear in the next 15 years and be replaced by tech jobs. Warning of a severe technological skills shortage in the next 10 to 15 years due to technological advancements, says almost 40 per cent of Australian jobs that exist today have a ‘high to moderate chance of disappearing” and being replaced by highly skilled tech jobs.