Why Australia's IT Sector is the Hottest Job Market for 2025!

The Australian IT sector is shining brightly as we head into 2025, boasting the strongest net employment outlook of any economic sector. According to ManpowerGroup’s Employment Outlook Survey for Q1 2025, the IT sector leads with a net employment outlook of +27%, significantly outpacing other industries like health care (+21%) and financials (+17%).

IT Outshines Other Industries

This promising outlook means that more employers are planning to hire than cut jobs, with a positive figure calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers expecting to reduce staff from those expecting to increase hiring. Despite a slight decline of 1% since Q4 2024, the IT sector remains a top choice for job seekers.

A Global Phenomenon: IT Leads in Hiring Outlook

Globally, the IT sector continues to dominate, with a net employment outlook of +37% across 42 countries. However, Australia ranks 36th globally, trailing behind India (+40%) and China (+29%).

Challenges Persist Despite Positive Outlook

While the numbers are encouraging, competition for IT roles is intensifying, with a growing number of job seekers compared to available positions. A recent survey found that 39% of Australian job seekers are struggling to find roles that match their skills.

Opportunities with Mid-Sized Employers

For those in the IT field, mid-sized companies (250-999 employees) are showing the highest hiring intentions, with a net employment outlook of +17% for 2025.

Salaries Expected to Remain Stable in 2025

As for compensation, Australian IT professionals are expected to earn some of the highest salaries in the country. Here’s a brief overview:

• Front-end developers: $100,000-$140,000 (mid-level); $150,000+ (senior)
• AI/ML engineers: $130,000-$180,000 (mid-level); $200,000+ (senior)
• Data scientists: $120,000-$160,000 (mid-level); $170,000+ (senior)
• Cybersecurity analysts: $100,000-$140,000 (mid-level); $150,000+ (senior)
• Cloud engineers: $120,000-$150,000 (mid-level)

Overall, while the IT sector offers promising opportunities, job seekers should be prepared for increased competition as they navigate this evolving landscape.