Skilled workers in the New Zealand technology scene have a bright future to look forward to, according to a new government report.
Skilled workers in the New Zealand technology scene have a bright future ahead, according to a new government report.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s (MBIE) 2015 Occupation Outlook assesses the education, employment and income prospects for employees in the country’s key industries. Technology employees in New Zealand – whether specialising in IT or working in the broader tech space – will certainly find the report pleasant reading.
The analysis revealed that as demand for talented tech experts increases, these professionals will be able to demand higher salaries moving forward. With both job prospects and potential salaries on the rise, those with the right skills in this field will likely have plenty of opportunities coming their way.
ICT business and systems analysts and ICT and telecommunications technicians were two of the roles that the report analysed – so what can candidates seeking work in these areas look forward to?
ICT business and systems analysts
Fortunately for budding analysts, the Occupation Outlook predicts high levels of income and healthy employment prospects for these specialists. The outlook suggests that with not enough graduates to meet the high demand, job prospects should “remain strong in coming years”.
Add to that the fact that these roles are on Immigration New Zealand’s official skills shortage list, and it’s easy to see why the future looks so promising for these workers.
Employment figures in this specialty grew 3.9 per cent from 2013 to 2014, reveals the MBIE, and further annual growth of 5 per cent and 3.7 per cent is predicted for 2013-2018 and 2018-2023 respectively.
ICT and telecommunications technicians
The forecast for these professionals is also positive, although perhaps not as promising as those for ICT business and systems analysts. Nonetheless, the outlook highlights that growing computer use and impending government investment in ultra-fast broadband will maintain high demand for skilled ICT workers.
Increasing numbers of young New Zealanders taking tertiary study in this field will also ensure the talent pipeline doesn’t dry up. According to the report, the number of people studying towards a computer science or information systems degree jumped by nearly 50 per cent between 2007 and 2013.
Any forward-thinking nation needs a solid supply of IT talent to rely on, and the favourable conditions in New Zealand will mean that IT professionals here will thrive in the coming years.