ICT Skills Vital for Australia's Economic Success
21 March 2012: The value and continued growth of Australia’s Digital Economy, is threatened by an acute shortage of skilled workers, Australian Computer Society (ACS) CEO Alan Patterson today warned ICT industry professionals.
Mr Patterson’s warning comes in his opening address to business and industry leaders and government representatives at the ACS Canberra Conference ‘Discover IT’. The annual conference brings together the best minds within Australia’s ICT industry, and features a number of high profile speakers including Federal MP Malcolm Turnbull (Shadow Minister Communications and Broadband), and Andrew Stevens from IBM Australia.
This year's ACS Conference is a major event for the local ICT industry and has particular relevance to government. ACS Canberra Branch Chair, Mr Michael Hawkins, said “The ACS conference is an excellent opportunity for ICT industry to engage, collaborate, and define the issues the sector is facing”.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Patterson highlighted a number of issues currently facing ICT in Australia which have the potential to hinder the development the digital economy. These include declining ICT university enrolments, a drop in skilled migration, an ageing workforce; and community misconceptions about the opportunities and rewards associated with an ICT career.
“We should be very concerned about sustaining the momentum of our vital $100bn digital economy. Australia’s digital economy is an undeniable force for productivity and value-add for every other industry sector, providing communications, social media platforms, data management and transaction processing capabilities that drive our economic performance.
“We are seeing capacity constraints emerging in Australia’s labour market, with acute ICT skill shortages at regional, industry and occupational levels” said Mr Patterson.
“The critical role of ICT professionals in enabling our digital economy means that the highest policy priority must be directed at education and workforce planning” said Mr Patterson.
Mr Patterson highlighted key statistics:
- At least 14,000 new ICT jobs will be created during 2012 and at least an additional 21,000 through 2013 but we are struggling to find the skilled people to fill them.
- ACS statistical research shows that university enrolments in ICT are currently less than half of what they were a decade ago and that despite a small recovery last year – as a percentage of the total student body – ICT students are continuing to decline.
- The pronounced decline in ICT education is also evident in the VET sector where a decade ago 75,000 people received an ICT qualification but by 2010 this had declined to 46,000.
Key initiatives called for by Mr Patterson include:
- Greater recognition of Australia’s Information Communications and Technology community as an industry sector in its own right.
- More research to understand why, despite the ever more compelling nature of ICT, not enough students are choosing ICT as a career.
- Improved coordination between business, government and research, particularly in the SME area where the majority of ICT professionals work.
- Improved ICT governance to support business capacity to capture the ever-increasing number of people using the internet.
Media Information:
Sarah Jane Williams
e: sarahjane@launchgroup.com.au
p: (02) 9492 1040
m: 0409 362 675
About the ACS: The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more information.
For more information on ACS Canberra Conference please go to www.acsconference.org.au.