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Australia Faces Tech Skills Shortage, Urges Urgent Reskilling Efforts

Cyber Security

Artificial intelligence, Near tech, Cybercrime

Business Honor
23 October, 2024

Australia faces Shortage of tech workers, urges reskilling and diverse pathways

Australian technology workers who are trained in cyber security and artificial intelligence are currently in short supply, according to the 10th annual ACS Australia's Digital Pulse report. "The report adds that there is a serious deficit of 1.1 million 'near tech' workers that include workers in such fields as mathematics and marketing and can be reskilled to fill gap areas in the country's technology workforce."

Demand for cybersecurity skills has jumped by 80% since 2020 primarily due to the spurt in cybercrime. Technology now employs more than 1 million workers and will demand another 300,000 by 2030,that is about 52,000 new recruits annually. For technology jobs alone, the report says that if such trends will continue, then 26,000 workers every year will require up skilling.

Despite a rise in domestic IT enrollments as the pandemic started, the count now drops to 10% for 2022. Yet, while 70% of parents encourage their children to pursue a profession in tech, it's only half of that figure for those outside the profession.

The report brings up alternative routes into work and urges the employers to embrace diversified acquisition of skills through short courses and micro-credentials.

The report outlines 12 key actions, including financial support for workers to acquire tech skills, boosting paid work placements for IT students, and more programs educating parents and students about careers in tech. According to him, the ACS CEO Josh Griggs says that with suitable skills, more Australians can be involved in the rapidly expanding sector that contributed more than $124 billion dollars to the economy last financial year.