The Plan to Realise Goal of Having 1.2 million Tech Workers in Australia by 2030

Employers across all sectors join forces with a single vision to create Aussie jobs

Media release

A new report from the Tech Council of Australia (TCA), Digital Skills Organisation and the Digital Employment Forum was launched today in Parliament House by Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science and Anthony Eisen, Board Director TCA.

The report prepared by the Tech Council and Accenture titled Getting to 1.2 million jobs – Our roadmap to create a thriving Australian tech workforce explains what it will take to meet the Australian Government’s goal of having 1.2 million tech workers in Australia by 2030.

Kate Pounder, CEO, TCA said, “The Australian Government and Australian tech employers have a shared commitment to create 1.2 million tech jobs in Australia by 2030, and to help Australians around the country access those jobs.”

“These jobs are critical to Australia’s future. They are amongst the fastest-growing, best-paid, most secure, and most flexible jobs in Australia. They have half the gender pay gap of other high-paying industries.”

“These jobs are critical to every major industry in the Australian economy – as demonstrated by the broad range of employers and educators participating in the Digital Employment Forum, from sectors as diverse as retail, banking, mining, government, professional services, software and telecommunications, all with a shared vision to create pathways into jobs.”

Getting more Australians into tech jobs is also one of the most impactful levers available to meet the goals of the upcoming Jobs Summit. This includes lifting productivity and wages without creating inflationary pressures, increasing job security, addressing the gender pay gap and improving employment outcomes for disadvantaged Australians.

However, while helping more Australians access tech jobs is critical to Australia’s economic future, the report finds that national action is needed to make sure more Australians can get into these jobs.

The report revealed that there are significant shortages, particularly for technical and experienced tech roles. Vacancy rates in tech 60 per cent higher than the national average and are forecast to grow at triple the rate.

The most severe shortages are in technical occupations like software programmers and computer network professionals but there are also big gaps in commercial and creative roles like product managers.

The report has identified 5 key barriers that prevent Australians from accessing the tech jobs opportunity.

  1. Australians lack awareness about what tech jobs exist, or how to get into them.
  2. Current training products and pathways into tech jobs are not always fit for purpose.
  3. There are strong demographic skews in tech jobs, with women, older Australians and regional Australians being under-represented.
  4. There is a small talent pool of people with the skills and experience needed to work in experienced technical roles, which have boomed.
  5. Australia lacks coordinated effort, analysis and planning for the tech workforce.

“We believe Government and industry need to work together to break down these barriers.”

“We believe Australia has a once in a generation opportunity to be a global technology powerhouse, leading in critical fields like Quantum and Fintech as well as increasing our lead in B2B software as a service.”

“The great news is the report has outlined a range of activities the sector can do, things Government can do and the role industry and Government can play together to break down the barriers and deliver on this incredible jobs opportunity.” Ms Pounder said.

Patrick Kidd, CEO of the Digital Skills Organisation said, “we are excited by the opportunity offered. It brings together major industry players on behalf of organisations – small and large – to focus on developing skills to interact in a technologically enabled world. We want to ensure employers focus on providing entry level pathways, supporting internal workforce development and continuing to offer flexible conditions and meaningful work.

“It is our mission as an industry to make digital skills and technology careers more accessible to more people and quickly — regardless of backgrounds, training or experience.” Mr Kidd said.

In addition, the report has outlined a number of focus areas to ensure we meet the goal of 1.2 million jobs.

Today’s report release follows the establishment of the TCA and Digital Skills Organisation partnership of the Digital Employers Forum, which launched in December last year to bring together major employers and jobseekers.

Anchor partners for the Digital Employment Forum comprise major tech employers and educators from across the economy, including BHP, Commonwealth Bank, Wesfarmers, Woolworths, NBN Co, Swinburne University of Technology, the Australian Technology Network of Universities, and the Australian Government.

About the TCA

The Tech Council of Australia is the peak industry body for Australia’s tech sector. Providing a trusted voice for Australia’s technology industry, with over 160 members, the Tech Council comprises the full spectrum of tech companies.

We aim to advise and engage with Australian governments, businesses, and the wider community to help support the ongoing creation, development, and adoption of technology across industries.
Our vision is for a prosperous Australia that thrives by harnessing the power of technology.

About the DSO

The Digital Skills Organisation (DSO) is backed by the Government and is championing an employer-led, skills-based approach to open up digital skills education opportunities to everybody.

By connecting employers with training providers, the DSO designs, trials, and scales training approaches to equip learners with the skills needed to work in the digital economy in line with employers’ needs.

About the Digital Employment Forum

The Digital Employment Forum has been established by the Tech Council of Australia and the Digital Skills Organisation to bring together major tech employers and educators from across the economy to transform the way Australia attracts and trains tech workers. It brings new approaches to solving the pain points that prevent Australians from getting into high-value, high wage tech jobs and enable businesses to employ more Australians.

The Tech Council of Australia and the Digital Skills Organisation would like to thank our generous Anchor Partners of the Digital Employment Forum, who continue to demonstrate exceptional leadership to grow Australia’s tech workforce, and to Accenture for their significant contribution to the Digital Employment Forum. We would also like to thank our members who have contributed their expertise to the respective working groups, and look forward to continuing to work together to grow tech jobs in Australia.

Media enquiries
Kate Lord, Akin Agency
media@techcouncil.com.au
0432 448 248

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