IT salaries show no sign of slowing down

Forget the looming downturn – salaries in the information and communications technology industry have grown strongly over the past 12 months and look set to keep rising as demand for IT services increases.

Forget the looming downturn – salaries in the information and communications technology industry have grown strongly over the past 12 months and look set to keep rising as demand for IT services increases.

The 2008 Australian Computer Society remuneration survey reveals there has been a 4.9% salary increase overall, while private sector ICT operators have experienced a 5.1% increase.

The survey shows the industry’s salaries have risen faster than Australian living increases, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the Consumer Price Index has risen just 4.2%.

ACS chairman Kumar Parakala says the growth is a result of the industry’s relative strength, and demand for high-skilled workers.

“With ICT contributing 4.6% to our GDP, more than agriculture and defence, it’s expected that the demand for skilled ICT workers and the increases in remuneration levels of experienced ICT professionals will continue to show solid growth.

“Skills shortages within the ICT sector are expected to grow to 14,000 in 2010 and 25,000 in 2020; with these figures, the demand for qualified professionals shows no signs of slowing down.”

The survey shows the communications and defence sectors have boasted the strongest growth at 6.7% and 6.6% respectively, while the education sector has only managed a 4.1%

The survey also indicates IT professionals with low skills are enjoying increases of up to 15%, while average salaries are expected increase 5% overall over the next year.

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