MrFlibbleUK

Just though this may be of interest....saw it in The Age this morning.


"The Australian Computer Society has called on the Federal Government to substantially reduce the intake of ICT professionals under the General Skilled Migration Program until the market has absorbed Australian graduates.

Releasing the society's policy on immigration today, ACS president Edward Mandla said the overseas intake should be kept low until the unemployment rate for local ICT professionals fell to levels in line with other professions.

The ACS policy is based on studies commissioned from labour market consultant Bob Kinnaird and Access Economics.

Mr Mandla said the Department of Immigration should collect data on 457 IT visa holders - professionals sponsored by employers and able to work in Australia for four years - and publish their skills and specialisations.

The ACS has also suggested mandatory skills assessment for the visa holders and the publication of regular data on the salaries they command.

A minimum salary should be set at the prevailing market rate for each ICT specialty and reviewed annually, Mr Mandla said.

AdvertisementThe ACS also wants the visa holders' employers to provide an undertaking that they are not displacing an Australian from the post.

The ACS will be meeting immigration department representatives in a fortnight or so to apprise them of the policy."

Cardos

I read this on the ACS site, from what I could read they (ACS) are only calling for reform in two areas, that of recent AU grads and those applying under employee nomination.

I must admit at first I called them every name under the sun, then as I calmed down I figured it was for the best, if the employment isn't there at the moment then better we wait 12 or 24 months until the industry picks up, which it will....in time.

It's all swings and round abouts, IT five years ago, Trades people now, give it a few more years there going to be short of IT personnel (I hope).

What's ur take on it all.

brutus

I hope you're right, but we've been waiting on an upturn in the IT industry for years now, not sure its going to happen though.

Personally I think it all got a bit silly at the end of the 90's, and then there has been a levelling off now.

I really hope I'm wrong though and that we're blown away with loads of IT jobs next year!!!

B

elksa

The I.T. market here in England really seems to be picking up again at present. After several years of little investment and cutbacks in I.T. companies seem to be realising that I.T. is very important and that more money needs to start being spent again. Lets hope that those philosophies migrate to Oz as well.

Cardos

This was posted in 'The Australian' days after the ACS posted their 'bad' news, also have you read the latest news on the ACS web site? they (ACS) are now claiming that IT unemployment has dropped again for like the forth year in a row.....

my opinion is the ACS are complete A H***S, unfortunately though, we all have to deal with them, I sharn't be dealing with them until Feb 2006 by which time they will of raised the necessary experience to 30 years and you shall require 27 uni degrees no doubt, anyway the article I mentioned earlier:

Big pay rises in store for techies
Jennifer Foreshew
MAY 24, 2005

SALARIES in the technology field are up by 10 per cent this year, as permanent hiring rises with an easing of staff restrictions, a survey shows.

A shrinking pool of permanent candidates is likely to increase demand for contractors, particularly developers skilled in .NET and Java, the survey finds.
In some instances, this could lead to pay rises of up to 20 per cent.

The results are from the Michael Page Technology Salary Survey 2005, covering Sydney and Melbourne.

The survey finds companies are investing heavily to improve business productivity and ensure maximum value from IT budgets, creating strong demand in business process and systems analysis, and software and systems development.

Data warehousing and business intelligence projects also are a priority.

The report advises companies to develop strategies to attract and retain quality staff in the face of greater competition for skills.

It finds 43 per cent of companies identify bonuses as the main motivator and flexible working hours are also important, at 29 per cent.

Mergers and acquisitions in the commerce and industry sectors are likely to bolster technology recruitment over the next 12 months.

Recent retrenchment programs and headcount freezes in banking and finance have been reversed, and there is fierce competition for some skills.

The study says a strong focus on enterprise business systems in telecommunications and technology will drive demand for consulting and pre-sales skills.

It predicts greater demand for those with technical skills and the ability to understand commercial drivers and adapt to business requirements.

The roles in highest demand include business and process analysts, project managers, and software and infrastructure developers.

Michael Page Technology associate director Stuart Packham said market growth would continue to drive salaries for the rest of the year and into 2006.

"I expect to see another 5 per cent on top of the 10 per cent so far this year because most organisations are saying they are going to hire," he said.

Ambition technology director Jane Bianchini said technology employment had been on an upward trend this year, particularly at the mid-level.

"Recruitment has been directed at increasing headcount to handle new projects and rebalancing IT departments, rather than purely replacement hiring," she said.

Many large organisations were able to halt a "salary explosion" by using contractors for a short period and retraining people in desirable skills, Candle Australia ICT national manager Trevor Taylor said.

He estimated salary increases of 5 per cent to 10 per cent this year.

boom_meringue

IT and telecoms are on the up for at least the next two years - in Oz as well as the UK. I have never found it so easy to find work in the UK as I have at the moment, and at astronomical contract rates up to 50% higher than they were 3 years ago. I know from contacts that the telecoms industry in Oz is picking up with alot of infrastructure improvements being made in billing as well as the 3g technology and associated investment. It's a good time to be in IT again, at least for the next couple of years so long as interest rates don't sky rocket making borrowing expensive for companies.

brutus

In fairness to the ACS, their report appeared to focus around unemployment in the recent graduate area.

It is frustrating that they change the rules so frequently and they seem to get harder and harder but I can see their point, they are trying to ensure highest quality IT migrants, whilst preserving the employment opportunities of their own countrymen. And with an apparent world excess of high quality candidates, why not take the cream.

I can't apply until Mar 2006, and I hope that they don't alter things too much in that time. Fingers crossed!!!!

But that's a positive article and hopefully things are starting to pick up world wide and continue to do so for the next few years

B