IT strong as 1 in 3 Australian companies begin hiring

Despite being rocked hard by the COVID crisis, Australia’s employment market is starting to bounce back, with 35% of employers currently hiring, according to specialist recruitment company Hays.

A survey conducted by the company in June found that the IT sector is one of six fields showing increased hiring activity.

Meanwhile, the survey found that just 19% of the over 1100 employers polled currently have a formal recruitment freeze in place.

Among the IT companies that are actively hiring, the most in-demand positions are infrastructure experts, software developers and engineers, and cloud architects and engineers.

Over the next 12 months, these companies said they expect infrastructure roles to remain in high demand, but the remaining places in the top three priority areas for recruitment will be replaced by helpdesk and support professionals, as well as cyber and data security and governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) staff.

“Many industries remain active and we’re seeing an uptick in hiring in certain areas. The IT, life sciences, marketing, accountancy, HR and banking fields in particular are seeing jobs being added in key areas,” Hays ANZ Managing Director Nick Deligiannis said.

“While the coronavirus changed the job market almost overnight, there is now an increasing number of opportunities available. For those looking for their next opportunity, targeting jobs in these areas is a sensible strategy.”

He said the survey results also indicate that companies are increasingly focused on data and digital engagement.

Since the COVID-19 crisis began, 49% of employers surveyed increased their adoption of agile working practices, 38% increased their focus on digital engagement with their customers, 35% invested in infrastructure or applications to facilitate remote working and 21% increased their use of data to analyse business performance.

The survey meanwhile identified the soft skills respondents are prioritising, with communication (45%) topping the list, followed by adaptability (40%) and teamwork (39%).

Deligiannis said professionals needing to seek new employment as a result of the crisis and apply for these jobs should take pains to highlight their relevant skills and experience.

“When applying for these jobs, it’s important to highlight your relevant skills and experience. If you need to, take some time to upskill,” he said.

“There are a number of ways you can upskill that won’t break the bank, such as following industry leaders on social media, attending webinars, listening to relevant online content like TED Talks and podcasts, joining an industry or professional association and asking for stretch opportunities in your current role.”

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