It's official: Skills shortage cuts deep

27.03.2006
It's official: Australia's skills shortage is back with IT managers confirming they are working longer hours and struggling to retain staff.

While the impact is only starting to emerge in some states, the nation's capital, Canberra, is being hit the hardest.

Brynten Taylor, technical services director at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), said every federal government department with a substantial IT shop is suffering from a skills shortage. Taylor said his team of 40 people could easily be 10 to 20 percent larger "just to handle the work we have at the moment."

"Another four to five would go down well," Taylor said. "We do have to advertise but we'd listen to anyone who is knocking on the door as we have vacancies all the time and it's just a case of re-advertising."

Although DEWR is not slowing down projects as a result of the labor shortage, current staff are working harder and longer to get projects done which is "increasing stress levels."

He admits some agencies are being forced to outsource."Canberra is a small town and the IT community is small, so the supply isn't increasing dramatically. Many rob Peter to give to Paul," Taylor said. "When DEWR advertises a position if it can pick up one or two people "that's been good."