The most 'in-demand' and 'most difficult to fill' positions for ICT employers are the roles of business analyst and project manager.
In a survey of 1059 IT hiring managers nationally, 34 percent of employers rates these roles as the most in demand over the coming six months, and 30 percent rates developer roles as difficult to fill.
Released by recruitment firm, Hudson, employers are relying on a restricted pool of talent to meet demand.
For example, 65 percent of respondents said they were likely to source talent locally, while 44 percent said they were likely to develop skills internally.
Hudson ITT executive general manager, Cyrus D'Cruz, said sourcing talent locally is a standout as the most popular recruitment method.
"This is because it provides a readily available, go to market option for addressing staffing demands," he said.
"Developing skills internally is a more long-term option and interestingly our experience and salary data shows employers that invest more in developing their own talent see less wage creep and turnover.
"Organizations need to develop an overall recruitment methodology that suits their individual needs.
"It's important that employers strike the correct balance between short term talent sourcing options and mid to long-term internal development options."
D'Cruz said project managers and analysts tend to rely mot heavily on softer skills around understanding business impacts, business engagement, and business enablement.
He said these are important skills that give candidates the ability to influence and create business cases and outcomes.
"From a recruitment perspective, this increased emphasis on softer skills, culture fit and team dynamic is making the candidate sourcing process a very different task," D'Cruz said.
"No longer can organizations and agencies rely on a tick-the-box method of recruiting."
The ICT skills shortage is worsening, according to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) ICT Vacancy Index.
The index has increased 200 percent in the three years since February 2004 and stands at its highest level since August, 2001.
Employer groups have called on the federal government to increase the intake of migrants to address Australia's continuing skills shortages which has led to the number of temporary visas being issued increasing 45 percent in 2005/06.
Earlier this month, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced it will spend $215 million in training and support over the next decade to deal with a continuing shortage of technical workers.
The department will need 12,000 new employees during this time with 25 percent coming from an engineering background.
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A joint defence-industry training taskforce will be formed to pool resources with industry.
The taskforce will deliver its recommendations in the second half of 2007.
Only yesterday, Special Minister of State, Gary Nairn, told attendees at the Australian Computer Society AGM in Canberra that the federal government is introducing a number of initiatives to address the shortage of ICT skills.
"One important area we are working on is the shortage of ICT skills in the Australian economy, and particularly in the Australian public service," Nairn said.
"There's no doubt that in an industry like the ICT industry, the demand for specialist, skilled labour is high.
"The government recognises that it must play a part in promoting and encouraging more school children, women and graduates into ICT.
"Im very pleased that AGIMO, guided by advice from an inter-departmental taskforce, is implementing initiatives to ensure a stronger, more skilled and more professional ICT workforce.
"One example is the commencement of a pilot ICT apprenticeship program, based in Canberra, which has seen 75 apprentices from NSW, the ACT and Victoria, placed in nine federal government agencies, to gain formal qualifications and practical, on-the job experience for a career in the public service."