We’re serious about emigrating to OZ and so I guess it’s sensible to ask the following of anyone who has had experience of recently moving over Tasmania as this looks like a lovely place.

The crucial question is what’s the IT jobs market like in Tasmania?
What’s the employment market like in general?
What’s the pros & cons of Tasmania

I can't imagine that there are a huge amount of IT jobs in Tasmania. However depending on what area you are in you might be lucky. Especially as Australia has a huge skills shortage in IT at the moment.

There are a few regular posters on this site that are based in Tasmania and hopefully they will be able to offer more info.

Huge skills shortage??

Maybe in Sydney but I don't think that's the case elsewhere

There are no IT skill shortages. The job boards are full of jobs but they are heavily duplicated by agencies trying to fill the same job. It is not unusual for 1 vacancy to be advertised by 10 agencies giving the impression there are a lot of vacancies. As a guide divide the total no of positions by 3 and you will get a real vacancies number. As far as applicants for IT jobs we are overwhelmed with applicants. I would think very seriously about coming to Australia for an IT career only. The mojority of work is contract with casual terms of employment. Rates are the same as permanent salaries meaning there is no premium for the lack of career or job security. Sorry to sound so negative.

A specialist technology recruitment consultant/account manager covering Brisbane/Sydney

Well I have to say that in the area of IT that I work in in Sydney we have terrible trouble finding people. The company even sponsor people from overseas to try and fill the positions. I also know that the company has the same issue in Brisbane and Perth.

Then again I only have a view on the sector that I work in....

Totally different kettle of fish over in Perth, major shortage of decent people across all areas of IT, has been for at least 18months, and no change in sight. Used to be a fairly high contract to perm ratio, has now evened off as employers want to retain people. Contract rates are still at least 25% above the equiv perm salary.
From talking to colleagues in other states, its exactly the same scenario.

For the OP, I have no idea about Tassie, but from my one visit to Hobart, I can imagine there would be a great deal beyond desktop/support type roles, and generally very small environments.
If for some bizzare reason you want to be in Tassie, id look into flying back to the mainland to Melb for the working week and head back at weekends, with the right company structure, LAFHA allowances and a good contract rate, it could be an attractive option.
Steve

Do they have computers in Tasmania

What sector do you work in ?

ERP Consultancy

Hi, just read this post as OH is an IT Project Manager, we have our PR visas but wanted to try to secure a position before we came over to Perth. So far OH has applied to loads of agencies and had not one response. Is this normal, that they only contact people who are living in Perth? We have 3 young children, all under 5 and for security financially wanted to secure a job first, are we mad thinking this? Any advise you can give would be appreciated and any contacts that you may have job wise also. Thanks for your time.

The agents generally aren't interested until you land. OH has just signed a contract for a job in Sydney, which came via an agent, but this only happened because he met the agent when we went over on a reccie in November. One company did a first telephone interview and wanted to take it further, but really wanted face to face; for the job he got he did a first telephone interview, second interview webcam, then spent 9 hours on the train going to see someone senior in the company who just happened to be on holiday here, then contract negotiations by phone. None of this would have happened though without that initial meeting with the agent in Sydney.

Every time I say this I get loads of comments saying 'not true!' but from what I have been told by various agencies in Perth, if you are not in the country, they will not bother with you by and large as there is no guarantee as to when you will be there and when you can start work.

Once you have a FINAL date you will arrive, they make take more interest. As for jobs in Perth, there are PLENTY at the moment. HBOSA [Bankwest in Perth] are quoted as indicating they will need at least another 250 IT staff in the next one to two years and most of them will be developers. [I'd love to know where they will get them from in Perth]. If that's true they will need Project Managers to crack the whip. The contractor market is strong at the moment due to the shortage - your OH may need to contract for a while to get his 'foot in the door' but after that I don't think he would have much trouble in getting a job at all - we're talking days or weeks at the most.

My advice is, don't worry about getting a job in advance - once your here it will be a lot quicker I'm sure.

But then again it might not!
Giving someone this sort of advice is not a good idea imo.
There are plenty of people who post on these boards who have found it difficult to find work!

To Bishop3912 - with two under 5s myself i know how you feel about moving without work.
Have you considered a trip to oz to try and find work before you move permanently? You could try to arrange meeting with agencies and companies before you fly so you talk to as many people as possible.

Good luck
Tiggs

Thanks guys for posting back will feed info to OH when his home. Looks like we will have to take the gamble and go for it. We have a date of late Sept at the mo. Keep everything crossed for us. Cx

Just sent you a PM.