The Australian tech industry reiterated its commitment to having 1.2 million tech workers in the country by 2030.
Minister of Industry and Science Ed Husic and the Tech Council of Australia’s board director Anthony Eisen released a report last week, in Parliament, summarising how the government and tech industry will boost the tech workforce to 1.2 million by 2030.
By 2030, we are expected to have a shortage of 186,000 tech workers. In order to capture the economic benefits of the sector, we must create 1 million tech jobs by 2025 and 1.2 million by 2030.
Technical and experienced tech roles are in short supply, particularly. Vacancy rates in tech are 60% higher than the national average and are expected to grow three times as quickly.
Fortinet’s Cybersecurity Skills Gap report released in early 2022 forecasted a global deficiency in cybersecurity workforce. Now, the Australian tech sector is reaffirming its goals
According to to TCA’s report Australia will require:
- 223,000 digital technicians and workers (including software programmers and cyber security specialists),
- 585,000 technical professionals (including software programmers and cyber security specialists),
- 253,000 creative and commercial workers, and
- 140,000 operational support workers in HR and legal professions, among others.
Technical and experienced tech roles are particularly lacking in the report, and five barriers preventing Australians from accessing tech jobs are listed as follows:
- A Strong demographic skew in tech jobs, with women, older Australians, and regional Australians being under-represented
- Australians are lacking awareness about what technology jobs exist or owthey can get into them
- Current training products and pathways into technology jobs are not always fit for purpose
- Limited talent pools of people with the right skills and experience needed to work in experienced technical roles, which have boomed
- Australia is lacking a coordinated effort, analysis, and planning for the tech workforce.
Digital Skills Organisation CEO Patrick Kidd expressed his enthusiasm.
“We are pleased to be part of this initiative, which will enable major industry players to collaborate on developing digital skills for a technologically connected world,” says Kidd
“We want employers to focus on establishing entry-level pathways, supporting internal workforce development, and maintaining flexible working conditions and fulfilling jobs.”
Kate Pounder, CEO of Tech Council of Australia, says the Australian government and tech industry must work together to meet their goals.
“These jobs are critical to Australia’s future. They are among the fastest-growing, highest-paid, safest, and most flexible jobs in the nation.”
“Because of their importance to the Australian economy, they are critical to almost every industry,”
“The Digital Employment Forum, which was attended by employers and educators from a wide range of industries, including retail, banking, mining, government, professional services, software, and telecommunications, was organised to create employment opportunities.” says Pouncder
In addition to focusing on creating tech jobs, another report has called for addressing gaps in cybersecurity strategies, particularly as cyberattacks have become widespread since the COVID-19 epidemic began.
According to the ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse 2022 report, released on July 14, 870,000 Australians are currently working in Information Technology (IT) Sector and the nation’s technology workforce increased by 8% over the previous year.
A fee-free TAFE program providing 465,000 places, and 20,000 additional university slots, is one of the Albanese government’s top priority areas for delivering Australian tech jobs.
