Technology jobs drying up as market hits the doldrums
New figures from listed recruiter Clarius Group's quarterly Skills Indicator to March 2013 show the information and communications technology (ICT) market has an over-supply of 300 workers and a shortage of 100 managers.
Clarius estimated the sector employs 216,000 ICT professionals and 47,000 managers.
Lacklustre conditions are mirrored in the wider market. The Indicator reports more than 75,000 skilled job seekers across all sectors, up from 42,000 in the December quarter.
While downturns in the permanent sector have historically been matched by a rise in contract hiring, recruiters say neither side is benefiting at present.
Linda Trevor, the executive general manager for Candle, Clarius' ICT recruitment arm, said the only good news was a modest increase in government contract roles in Queensland in the past two months.
The Newman government canned hundreds of roles in mid-2012 but had recently begun hiring again.
IT Contract Recruitment Association CEO Julie Mills said slow times had taken the toughest toll on those at the bottom, with networking and helpdesk staff struggling to find work.
The recruiters' stance is at odds with the Australian Computer Society, which late last year predicted the creation of 12,300 ICT industry jobs by February this year.
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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Recruiters say the technology jobs market is in the doldrums: permanent roles are drying up, entry-level staff are struggling to find work, senior program managers are taking large pay cuts or spending months on the bench, and neither permanent nor contract hiring is benefiting at present.
Clarius Group estimated the sector employs about 216,000 ICT professionals and 47,000 managers. Their quarterly Skills Indicator to March 2013 reported an oversupply of around 300 workers in the ICT market and a shortage of about 100 managers.
No — the article notes that while downturns in permanent hiring have historically been matched by rises in contract hiring, recruiters say neither permanent nor contract sides are benefiting at present.
Recruiters and the IT Contract Recruitment Association CEO Julie Mills said slow times have taken the toughest toll on entry-level staff, with networking and helpdesk workers struggling most to find work. Senior program managers are also facing big pay cuts or long periods on the bench.
The Indicator reports more than 75,000 skilled job seekers across all sectors in the March quarter, up from 42,000 in the December quarter, reflecting lacklustre conditions beyond just the ICT sector.
Yes — Candle, Clarius' ICT recruitment arm, reported a modest increase in government contract roles in Queensland over the past two months after the Newman government, which had cut hundreds of roles in mid-2012, began hiring again.
Recruiters’ findings are at odds with the Australian Computer Society, which predicted the creation of 12,300 ICT industry jobs by February. Recruiters instead report oversupply and weak hiring, indicating a less optimistic near-term picture.
The article suggests recruitment data points to weak conditions in the technology sector right now. For everyday investors, rising job seeker numbers, shrinking permanent hiring and stalled contract demand are useful indicators that sector activity is subdued — information worth monitoring alongside company and market updates.
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