Best International's monthly ICT Talent Index, launched Monday, shows the five week period from January 1, 2007 to February 6, 2007, had the highest number of jobs ever recorded for IT skills in Australia with permanent roles up 12 percent and contract roles increasing eight percent.

The results confirm CIO (Chief Information Officer) Executive Council claims that Australia's largest organizations are being forced to put IT projects on hold as the result of a worsening skills shortage.

The council's executive director, Con Colovos, said there has been unprecedented demand to support new projects.

"CIOs are struggling to find the right level of IT resources to implement new projects and upgrade infrastructure," he said.

"Unfortunately everyone is starting to experience the shortage of resources throughout the IT industry and the fact that many of these projects are being put on hold until the appropriate resources are found is a real concern.