Victoria leads employment demand for ICT professionals

Demand for ICT professionals in Victoria is strong with the state’s employers projected to seek to fill ICT roles over the next few years at an annual rate of 2.7% – well above the national average of just 2%. Cyber security skills are in high demand across a number of the state's business and industry sectors.

The forecast demand for ICT professionals covers the period between this year and 2020 which continues the strong ICT growth Victoria has seen in previous years.


This latest forecast from the Victorian branch of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and Deloitte Access Economics shows ICT skills development as an essential component of growth for new jobs in the state, particularly in cyber security. The forecasts also feature new data from LinkedIn, highlighting a major skills shift is underway in Australia’s economy.

According to the ACS and Deloitte in their Digital Pulse report, the forecast of 2.7% indicates the strong position Victoria holds and its capabilities in the digital economy.

Nationally, the report says that Australia’s digital economy will grow to $139 billion — or 7% of GDP — by 2020.
The ACS Victoria branch also unveiled its Cyber Security Position Paper ahead of the Federal election on July 2, with the organisation calling for additional government and industry investment to position Melbourne as the global hub of “significant cyber security expertise” – creating jobs, new businesses and value in the local and national economy.

LinkedIn statistics included in the ACS/Deloitte report used real-time data about labour market pressures and developments to highlight that cyber security is a big IT need for Australia’s workforce.

ACS Victoria Branch chair, Craig Horne, said, “Given the importance of cyber security to businesses and organisations, it is vital that companies engaging cyber security professionals and companies can have confidence that their skills, services and products will be effective and relevant to the fast evolving cyber security threat.

“The wider ICT industry underpins innovation and competitiveness across Victoria's economy and accounts for approximately 31% of Australia's ICT workforce.

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