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Professor Mary O'Kane Vice - Chancellor of Adelaide University Presentation to WITSA March 9, 2001 IT Workforce & Skills Issues in Australia. The IT & T industry is characterised by:. large vacancy flows constantly changing skill requirements high turnover of labour.
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Professor Mary O'KaneVice - Chancellor of Adelaide UniversityPresentation 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) • at all levels, from unskilled, vocational education sector, university (degree and higher degree) • strong emphasis on generic skills including high adaptability • university degrees of two main types: - information systems / business information technology - computer science / engineering
IT & T skills requirements(some general observations, cont’d) • Asia-Pacific governments have emphasised IT&T workforce planning (cf. India, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand) • Many governments have skilled-worker migration programs or programs to attract nationals working abroad to return in order to meet IT&T industry needs • Many students who study outside their home countries do so in order to obtain IT&T qualifications
Relevant technical knowledge High adaptability to new knowledge, techniques or products Ability to deliver business solutions General business acumen Project management skills Sensitivity to customer needs and meeting deadlines Client consulting skills Ability to work as part of a team High level communication skills Personal presentation Sales and marketing skills Generic skills sought in IT&T workers
The two most common weaknesses in the characteristics of applicants for IT&T positions are: • insufficient experience • lack of broader business skills
The areas of current IT&T work in strongest 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 of IT&T activity in Australia in terms of projected growth rates in employee demand over 1999-2004 are: • internet services and support - 178% growth • multi-media content development - 171% growth • services consulting - 131% growth
Percent who expect positions will be very difficult to fill Systems architects 64% IT strategists 54% Database administrators 39% Services consultants 37% Business analysts 35% Positions which are expected to be the most difficult to fill in Australia over the next three years are:
Major reports on IT&T skills: Unmet Demand for Information Technology and Telecommunications Courses (January 2001) Prepared by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) for the Commonwealth 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 Force Skill Shortages in Australia’s IT&T Industries (December 1998) National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE)