Coonan said there is an "urgent" need to address the negative perception of ICT careers in the community, which is turning many young people away from considering a career in the "dynamic" sector, and believes the report will make a significant contribution to understanding the changing needs of the ICT industry and the economy as a whole.

The report also cited "flow-on effects" within the ICT industry of intergenerational social and demographic factors, such as the aging workforce, changing workplace attitudes, and negative perceptions of ICT careers due to a poor understanding in schools of the diversity of ICT opportunities as areas of concern.

A lack of multi-jurisdictional cooperation in addressing ICT skills is also seen as a hindrance.

Other recommendations include better aggregation of ICT jobs and data on the skills market, additional research into staff retention and "upskilling," a national ICT awareness campaign to market the attractiveness of IT as a career, and action to review and enhance the teaching of ICT in schools.

During his keynote address at the summit, Queensland's IT policy minister Chris Cummins announced a A$250,000 (US$183,641) program to encourage an injection of talent into the state's ICT industry.