The IT sector is shining brightly in Australia as we approach 2025, leading the job market with the highest employment outlook of any industry. According to ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey for the first quarter of 2025, the net employment outlook for IT stands at an impressive +27%, which puts it ahead of all other sectors.
When we look at the numbers, IT is far outpacing industries like healthcare and life sciences, which are at +21%, and financial services and real estate, both at +17%. Even transportation and logistics hold the same +17%. The national average employment outlook is +11%, making IT the clear frontrunner this quarter.
To calculate that outlook score, we take the percentage of employers looking to hire and subtract the percentage planning layoffs. A positive score indicates that more employers want to expand their teams rather than cut jobs. Still, it’s worth mentioning that there has been a slight dip in the IT sector’s outlook, down 1% since the last quarter of 2024 and 2% since last year.
Globally, the IT arena is also thriving, with a +37% net employment outlook spanning across 42 countries, reflecting a 2% rise from the previous year. However, Australia is positioned 36th worldwide, with an overall employment outlook of +11%, which falls behind several Asia-Pacific countries. India leads the pack at +40%, followed by China at +29%, Singapore at +25%, and Japan at +15%. Interestingly, the total hiring outlook for the Asia-Pacific region stands at +27% but is down 3% from last year.
Even with such robust statistics, landing an IT job in Australia isn’t entirely simple. The job market is tightening, creating stiffer competition. Reports reveal a growing number of job seekers compared to the available positions. An online jobs platform called SEEK found that the number of applications per job ad in the information and communications sector has more than doubled since 2022. So, while roles are still out there for those on the hunt, they’re not as plentiful as they once were.
According to a December 2024 Gartner HR survey, 39% of Australian job seekers found it difficult to secure a position, while only 25% felt that enough opportunities fit their skill set.
If you’re in IT and looking for good odds, mid-sized companies could be where you want to focus. ManpowerGroup indicates that employers with 250-999 employees are showing the most ambition in hiring, sporting a net employment outlook of +17%. In contrast, larger companies with 1,000-4,999 employees are less enthusiastic, sitting at just +7%.
As for salaries, IT professionals in Australia can continue to expect competitive compensation, though increases may be modest. Recruiter Blue Wave Digital provides these estimates:
– Front-end software developers: $100,000-$140,000 for mid-level and $150,000+ for senior roles.
– AI/ML engineers: $130,000-$180,000 for mid-level and $200,000+ for senior positions.
– Data scientists: $120,000-$160,000 for mid-level and $170,000+ for senior.
– Cybersecurity analysts: $100,000-$140,000 for mid-level and $150,000+ for senior roles.
– Cloud engineers: $120,000-$150,000 for mid-level.
Meanwhile, Mercer’s Australian Salary Outlook for 2025 predicts a general salary increase across the economy will stabilize around 4%.
