Health, education sectors hungry for IT skills

Employers in healthcare and education have been the hungriest for ICT skills over the past three months, according to the latest Peoplebank Salary Survey.

Both sectors have been the key driers of hiring between November and January, with health sector demand rising month-on-month from August last year.

“The sheer number of new e-health initiatives – in PCEHR, telehealth, remote diagnosis and more – make healthcare one of Australia’s strongest areas of ICT investment, alongside the education market where developments including fast broadband are fuelling innovation,” said Peoplebank, CEO Peter Acheson.

Investments in the broad commercial sector – including manufacturing retail and the resources sector – remain the engine room of ICT hiring as companies continue with big data, social, mobile, and cloud projects, said Acheson.

Demand is strongest for quality assurance, testing, network and system engineers, and database administrators. Contracts roles are favoured over permanent roles, the survey found.

By state, the ACT, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria all reported stronger than expected demand for ICT professional, the survey found. NSW – the largest hirer of IT skills – lagged due to slower-than-normal hiring in the banking sector but this should strengthen by autumn, Peoplebank said.

CIO salaries unchanged

Salaries for CIOs in permanent roles have remained unchanged over the past three months. In Sydney, a senior CIO/IT director is earning $350,000 per annum, $205,000 in the ACT, $300,000 in Melbourne, $250,000 in Adelaide and Perth, and $190,000 in Brisbane.

Salaries for senior IT managers range from $115,000 in Brisbane (in March and up from $110,000 in January), to $180,000 in Sydney.