Growth in both contracting and permanent IT roles.

The IT employment sector has strengthened in the past quarter with a lift in both contracting and permanent vacancies signalling an improving market, recent data shows.

The latest Peoplebank ICT Salary & Employment Index for May to July, released today, found in the major ICT markets demand had risen to the highest point in several years.

In NSW, job numbers grew by as much as 20 per cent over the last quarter and in the ACT, demand for ICT professionals was at its highest level for three years.

Peoplebank chief executive officer, Peter Acheson highlighted the following:

–          NSW, VIC and ACT experienced the lift from January this year through to the end of June

–          Queensland experienced improvement in hiring, mostly contracting-led from July 1

–          Significant improvement in South Australia since last month

–          While IT employment in Western Australia remained soft

Mr Acheson further explained that the first six months of the year was very much a contracting-led requirement for IT roles, but the last three weeks has seen a 30% jump in permanent roles and also a 2% growth in contracting opportunities.

However demand for digital professionals still remains ahead of supply in Australia.  Peter Acheson states “we are just starting to see demand for 457 visas so it is another indicator to us that the market is firming.”

Source: adapted from the article “Tech Job Sector Strengthens”Published in the Australian view the original article here