Displaying items by tag: Skills Shortage

The security threat to Australian companies from cyber criminals is exacerbated by a growing skills gap within the IT industry, according to research by recruitment company Robert Half.

CIOs in the United States are facing the worst technology skills shortage since the global financial crisis in 2008, according to a newly released survey which also reveals that the chief information officers say a chronic lack of IT talent will prevent their organisations from keeping up with the rapid pace of technology change.

Insufficient ICT skills is one of a number of barriers holding back some Australian organisations and businesses from moving forward on IoT projects and taking advantage of the rapidly growing Internet of Things industry in Australia, according to the CSIRO.

The chief of one of Australia’s leading ICT recruitment firms has joined the chorus of industry and business leaders hailing the prospects for the growth of an innovative, digital economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

A cyber security ‘hacking competition’ will run from 12pm today for 24 hours - without breaks - hosted by Telstra and run by Australian Govt, business and academic security pros.

Forecast growth in the digital and mobile sector is likely to bring about ICT skills shortages over the next 12-months as many organisations carry out user experience, online and transformation projects, according to a new survey by one ICT recruitment firm.

The IT market is set to experience significant growth in the coming months in key sectors, but despite the growth forecast the industry is facing the challenges of a skills shortage, according to predictions by one major Australian ICT recruiter.

A shortage of IT talent is impacting the ICT industry this year, with a warning that the implementation of projects could be delayed by the lack of talent.

The peak trade association for the Australian digital industry, the AIMIA, has embarked on a new strategic direction involving a restructure of the organisation which it says is designed to support ongoing growth of the digital industry.

Every time I watch another large corporation send highly skilled jobs offshore while crying “skills shortage” out of the other side of its mouth, I think of one word – fascism.

We've all seen those notices at airports, railway stations, on buses and elsewhere: "If you see something, say something." It's the government's attempt to get every single Australian involved in - and personally responsible for - the nation's security. Thankfully the threat level is very low and most of us, I suspect, have little concern and little expectation of finding anything untoward.

There are fewer high level IT jobs advertised on jobs boards than at any time since GFC circa 2008, yet some self-interested parties still claim there is a skills shortage.  Oh heck, let’s name names – Clarius, there is no IT skills shortage in Australia and if there is one thing this government has got right is its stated intention to crack down on unnecessary IT 457 visas

Nearly 60% of Australian IT&T Executives intend to hire in 2012, naming employee retention as the number one challenge for this year. When asked to rank the key issues they expect to face in 2012, IT&T executives ranked the global economy as less important than any other sector, naming 'adapting to new technologies' as number two, followed by skills shortages and the global economy coming in fourth.

By the end of last year Australia had around 700 too many ICT managers, and 2,700 too few ICT professionals. It's the classic case of too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

The sense that today is crunch time for Europe has the financial markets on a knife edge; but it could also open the doors for IT skills as expats and Europeans concerned at the situation in the Northern Hemisphere look to the apparently more benign Australian market for jobs in 2012.

It now seems safe to state categorically that courtesy of the economy and tumbling business confidence Australia's IT skills shortage is well and truly over and will stay so for the remainder of 2011 and well into the first quarter of 2012.

While demand for IT executives softened slightly in the last quarter, a skills mismatch continues to plague companies looking for technology staff. However it might be more to do with intransigence than ill-suitedness according to a leading recruitment organisation.

IT recruitment business Candle has announced the first of what is expected to grow into a network of South East Asian branches, with the opening of an office in Hong Kong. Initially intended to service existing clients in Australia looking for people for their Asian operations, the office will ultimately act as a conduit for Asian contractors wishing to work in Australia.

Jittery business sentiment is leading to an increase in demand for contract IT staff, as companies continue to shy away from increasing their permanent headcount, prompting 'ridiculous' fee spikes of up to 30 per cent in some areas of the IT skills market.

Modern businesses are so reliant on technology that when computer systems fail in the future it will be the CEO rather than the CIO who receives the kick in the rear. CIOs that let them get into that position however probably shouldn't expect long tenure.