How is the job market in Australia?

[mark ralphael]

?

[Homer Phillips]

Now you're talking. Can one just go and work as a life guard until they
find suitable employment?

[Svend Rost]

Well.. beeing bored I took a look at a job site..

I have some good news, and some bad news.

Let's start with the good news - I think it looks pretty good.
At least it should be possible to find a job. I found a total of 11954 job
postings atm. in Australia within the occupation I looked at.

On to the bad news. If you get one of the jobs, you properly wont be
sitting at a desk, since the occupation I looked at were factory and
machine workers. Then again, you didn't state anything about yourself,
so perhabs this too is good news.

/Svend Rost
[ April 19, 2005: Message edited by: Svend Rost ]

[Billy Tsai]

what the hell are you talking about?
is anyone working in AUstralia that can give us some input

[Svend Rost]

Me ?

Im talking about jobs in Australia. He did not specify his job requirements
nor his qualifications.

/Svend Rost

[Shameer Subedar]

Have a look at :
it.seek.com.au
www.jobnet.com.au

The market is much better than in 2003, when I remember there were only about 2000 jobs advertised on seek.

Cheers,
Shameer

[Alan Wanwierd]

IT sector employment in Australia has picked up a lot in recent months. That said - it came from an appalling low!

Here in Brisbane the local paper used to have 5 or 6 pages of IT jobs a week - now we get half a page!...

Depending on your skills you can expect to find jobs earning (assume java programming/architect/project leader career track):

Sydney: AU$70-120K
Melbourne: AU$60-100K
Brisbane: AU$$50-90K

Finding jobs outside SYD & MEL is not easy, and outside of state capitals is virtually impossible. Bear in mind the cost of living in these cities and Sydney becomes avery unattractive place to live & work! Also consider that with taxes running at 50% on income >$70K, getting paid more for one job than another very rarely results in a significant increase in pocket!

Short term contracts do exist - but the IT contracting market in Australia is far less of a money-spinner than in other places (rarely get more than AU$50.p.h). However, contracts at government departments do have a tendency to be renewed without question and its not uncommon once people get into a contract role - to stay on rolling 6 month contracts for 10 years! Problem with contracting is if you dont get one of these 'gravy-train' positions, then you are likely to spend a LONG time on the bench waiting to find the next job!..

Job hunting in Australia is a question of patience!... there is stuff here - but dont expect to walk into a job the day after you get off the plane!


--hope that helps
[ April 27, 2005: Message edited by: Adrian Wallace ]

[David O'Meara]

It's still an employer's market, hence mostly permanent and only limitted quality contract positions. There have been steady signs that it has been improving (again over the last couple of years), but I'm not sure if this will continue, level off, or drop again. I've seen indications of all three based on projected IT spending of various companies

[Stev Chaos]

I have been working in my current company since Jan 2001, basically as C++/Java/J2EE software engineer, but also responsible for some architecture stuff. I started looking for other job opportunities after March 2004, but with really bad luck - I send out more than 50 applications, but only 3 agents and two employers interviewed me . Most of them don't think I got enough java experience - though I got a Java Tutor job when I was in Uni( 2000) , I seriously start using java only in 2002.

Lots of employers expect that you have a broad range of knowledge and skills, but only want to pay u as if you are a third year computer science student.

I am going to buy a chinese take away restraunt , and leave the IT industry. In a word , I am sick of it ( but I am still interested in technology itself).