Computerworld

Kiwi tech workers… Are you in demand?

The Government's newly released 2015 Occupation Outlook report drills into the heart of the ICT industry in New Zealand, so, are you in demand?

Roles in the ICT industry continue to grow in New Zealand, with Kiwi workers in the tech space expected to command higher salaries as the need for talent increases.

That’s according to the 2015 Occupation Outlook report, released yesterday, which reports that the country is “quickly developing a move highly-skilled economy.”

Bringing together the latest information from employers, industries, the education sector and labour market analysts to summarise job demand, likely income levels, and training requirements for each of the 50 different career options, the report was released by Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce.

Grouped into the manufacturing industry, job prospects in the ICT sector remain strong as “new, highly-innovative industries” emerge in areas ranging from pharmaceuticals to telecommunications, from medical devices to watercraft.

According to the report, New Zealand’s high and medium-technology manufacturing industries remain a “small part of our economy, but are growing rapidly.”

High-tech manufacturing includes pharmaceuticals, aircraft manufacturing, professional and scientific equipment manufacturing and computer and electronic manufacturing, accounting for 0.7 per cent of New Zealand’s GDP and 3 per cent of total exports.

Medium-high tech manufacturing products range from domestic appliances to milking machines, from insecticides to motor vehicle parts, accounting for 1.4 per cent of our GDP and 6 per cent of total exports.

The Government has targeted these sectors for growth, as part of its target to increase exports to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025.

New Zealand’s traditional manufacturing sector, with its focus on primary processing (such as dairy manufacturing), will remain important as well, and more information on these industries is given in the chapter on career prospects in the primary industry.

MBIE forecasts that employment in the primary processing will grow at 1.3 per cent per year between 2013 and 2018, and other manufacturing will grow by 2.6 per cent, compared to total employment growth of 2.1 per cent.

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ICT and Telecommunications Technicians

According to the report, job prospects for ICT technicians are good. Continual increases in computer use means there is strong demand for ICT professionals.

The chances of getting a job as a telecommunications technician are limited due to declining job numbers.

However, demand is expected to pick up as government investment in ultra-fast broadband comes into effect (due for completion in 2019).

Income and employment prospects

In 2013, the estimated average income for ICT and telecommunications technicians was $50,200.

Income is highly variable, and depends on qualifications and area of specialisation:

• new telecommunications technicians can expect to start on about $30,000 a year

• technicians with more than five years’ experience usually earn between $35,000 and $50,000 a year

• senior technicians and those in supervisory positions usually earn between $50,000 and $70,000 a year, but may earn more.

Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in information systems earned $40,200 one year after their study ended. After five years, income had increased to $58,400.

During the recession, employment of ICT and telecommunication technicians has been relatively flat.

In the future the government expects growth to be weak for telecommunications technicians, but better for ICT technicians.

Career path

Computer systems and telecommunication technicians may be promoted to senior technician or management roles. Computer systems technicians may take on other roles such as programmer or systems analyst.

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ICT Business and Systems Analysts

According to the report, job prospects for ICT business and systems analysts are good. Demand for employees in these fields has been growing, and there are not enough graduates to meet this demand.

Both of these occupations are on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list, reflecting the fact there are currently not enough graduates to meet demand with job prospects likely to remain strong in coming years.

Income and employment prospects

In 2013, the estimated average income for ICT business and systems analysts was $73,100.

Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in information systems earned $40,200 one year after their study ended. After five years, income had increased to $58,400.

Employment has grown over the past several years, with employment in ICT business and systems analysis increasing from 7,000 in June 2006 to more than 10,000 in 2014 with strong growth expected in the medium term.

Both ICT business and systems analysts appear on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list.

One year after graduation, 71% of those with a Bachelor’s degree in information systems were employed, and 21% were in further study - this compares with 54% and 40%, respectively, for all Bachelors’ degrees.

Career Path

ICT business and systems analysts often work their way into senior analyst positions. Many take a project management role, and these jobs are often seen as a route to enter higher management-level positions, such as an ICT manager.

Other related occupations include systems administrators and web designers.

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Software Developers:

According to the report, new software developer graduates are in high demand with a shortage of software developers in New Zealand, and continuing growth in job vacancies.

The number of developers has grown steadily over recent years, but demand is expected to continue increasing in the fast-developing ICT industry.

Income and employment prospects

In 2014, the estimated average income for business and systems analysts and programmes (of which software developers are a subset) was $79,200.

However, income for programmers varies widely – depending on their responsibilities, the type of programming work they do, and geographic location.

Graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in the field of computer science earned $41,000 one year after their study ended. After five years, income had increased to $62,000.

There has been steady growth in the number of software developers employed in recent years. There is also strong projected employment growth of around 4.8% per year from 2013-18 and 4.3% per year to 2023.

A number of specific occupations for software developers appear on Immigration New Zealand’s long term skill shortage list, which means the government is “actively encouraging” skilled people in these jobs from overseas to work in New Zealand.

These in-demand software occupations include analyst programmer, software engineer, and software tester.

One year after completion of a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, 60% of graduates were employed and 27% were in further study - this compares with 54% and 40%, respectively, for all Bachelors’ degrees.

Career path

The number of online job vacancies for software developers decreased by 3.3% from June 2013 to June 2014. This compares with an overall increase of 16.5% for all skilled vacancies over the same period.

Once a software developer has learnt the required fundamental skills, they may progress to become senior programmers, software architects, or chief information officers.