The Federal Government's slew of skills initiatives announced in this week's Budget have received a thumbs-up from the IT Contract and Recruitment Association (ITCRA), particularly the $588 million worth of training initiatives and the $30 million programme targeted at older workers

The Federal Budget has largely ignored the ICT sector, leaving the peak industry body to pin its hopes on the release of the Digital Economy statement later this month.

Cuts announced to Federal programmes in the Gillard Government's first Budget, which are intended to help deliver $22 billion worth of savings, could dent the fragile recovery of the Canberra ICT skills market.