19 February 2008

Australian IT skills shortage continues to prove challenging

The shortage of employees with adequate IT skills is continuing to prove challenging for employers as this shortfall in highly-skilled professionals increases, it has been reported. Employees are struggling to find and keep the employees they need in this field within a reasonable time frame, without excessively increasing the salaries on offer, Australian IT said.

The news source reports that there is a shallow talent pool for those with mainframe computer skills, which could benefit migrants who work in jobs included in the Australia Skilled Occupations List.

Jane Bianchini, chief operating officer of Candle ICT, said: "As people with mainframe skills start to retire, there is very little talent available to take over from them. A lot of banking and finance organisations are still using mainframes, as are airlines, so those skill sets are going to start to be in high demand."

Such workers could gain entry to the country after passing a skilled points test set by the skilled visa assessing authorities to fill the void left by Australians retiring from their positions in this field.

The Age recently reported that migrant quotas are to be lifted in order to solve the labour shortage with increased Australian immigration by migrant workers.

Australia needs skilled workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.