The Australian IT&T sector will be slugged by a 8000 university graduate shortfall in 2002, according to a major industry survey released today.
Industry demands will require 27,500 IT jobs in 2002 - two thirds of which (or 18,400) will need to have a university degree or higher.
However, the survey - undertaken by the IT Skills Hub - has identified a shortfall in university students of between 7000 and 8000 for 2002.
"The survey has confirmed strong growth in demand for IT skills and a significant gap in the supply of those skills," Brian Donovan, IT Skills Hub CEO, said.
The skills mismatch means that, in the short term, the IT&T industry will have to employ people with a lower level of skills than it would prefer.
However, the longer-term outlook is a little healthier with enrolments in universities showing strong growth, according to the IT Skills Hub.
"This will increase supply substantially over the next three to five years," Donovan said.
It is also hoped that recent government decisions to relax immigration rules to allow overseas students to work in Australia immediately after they finish their course will boost the supply of skilled workers.
"IT skills are the currency in which individuals, companies and nations will trade," Donovan said.
"Our ability to capture the breadth of opportunities afforded by the global information economy will depend on having a highly skilled workforce."
The new IT Skills Hub portal - www.itskillshub.com.au - was launched today. It will provide a communication channel for individuals, industry and education and training providers.
