Over 1,600 ACS members responded to the remuneration survey, which examined contractors and salaried employees. It found that wages had grown by 3.1 percent over the year to April 2003, 0.3 percent below the rate of Consumer Price Index (CPI) growth.
ACS president Richard Hogg said the survey, which was conducted by the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia, highlighted just how poor wage performance in the ICT sector is.
"The average increase of 3.1 per cent is the lowest recorded in the 11 year history of the ACS salary survey and well below the increase in average weekly earnings of 4.7 per cent for the period, but it comes as no surprise given the current situation in the ICT sector," he said in a statement.
Some contractors have found themselves in dire positions, with nearly a quarter of them forced to drop their rates to stay employed, Hogg said.
However 46 percent of contractors' rates didn't move at all, and the remaining 30 percent reported an increase in their rates. The net affect was a stagnation in median rates, which didn't increase or decrease across the board.
Growth in the CPI translates stagnation into a decrease, says Hogg.
"This represents a decline of 3.4 per cent in income in real terms and, if this trend continues, it could change the composition of the ICT sector as professionals begin to favour full-time salaried positions rather than more flexible, but less stable, contract roles," he said.
Interestingly it was found that public sector salary earners received the best increases. They recorded rises of 3.4 percent, in line with the CPI increase. Private sector salary earners lagged behind on 3.1 percent. The education sector was the big loser recording a 2.3 percent increase.
"The results show that ICT professionals can no longer demand a premium for their knowledge and skills compared to other professions," Hogg said.
5.4 percent of respondents reported being retrenched during the year to April 2003, contractors fared worse at with a rate of 7.6 per cent.
General managers and sales and marketing positions payed top dollar among those surveyed. Management scored a median pay of AU$147,225, sales and marketing came in second at AU$129,028, IT management was next at AU$111,488, consulting at AU$109,000, and project management wrapped up the over 100k group with a median of AU$103,968.
Computer support and training positions came in at the bottom, with median wages of under AU$65,000.
