Australia's IT Skills Gap: How Lumify Learn Can Help Reskill “Near Tech” Workers
By Lumify Learn Team | November 21, 2024
In 2024, Australia continues to face a significant IT skills gap. Despite a 60% growth in the tech workforce since 2014, the country still needs 1.3 million tech workers by 2030 to meet demand, according to a report by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
The situation is equally critical for the cyber security industry. An analysis by cyber security service provider StickmanCyber reveals that there are only 11,387 cybersecurity professionals in vital roles, making up only 3% of Australia’s ICT workforce. As a result of this, Australia is constantly suffering from data breaches and cyber attacks.
What Could Help Solve Australia’s IT Skills Gap?
To combat the growing IT skills shortage and boost productivity and efficiency among businesses, ACS’s latest Digital Pulse report suggests tapping 1.1 million “near tech” workers to reskill and support the IT workforce.
Near tech workers are individuals who possess transferable skills and knowledge that can be applied to technology-related roles. Examples include administrative assistants, mathematicians, customer service representatives, and accounting and finance professionals.
“Australia has long faced a chronic tech skills shortage, but this report makes clear that in the face of a rapidly evolving cyber security landscape and strong adoption of AI into the workplace, we need to be ensuring the nation has the skills needed by industry and the community,” said ACS CEO Josh Griggs. “Technology is touching every part of society, particularly businesses, and for Australia to be competitive globally, we need to ensure the nation has the skillsets required to make the most from these emerging platforms.”
Griggs also added that technology jobs pay well, and tech companies are among the fastest growing businesses worldwide. According to him, by teaching individuals the right skills, we can ensure that more Australians join the IT sector.
The Challenges with Reskilling Near Tech Workers
Despite near tech workers having similar capabilities to those working in the IT industry, there are challenges that hinder their transition.
For one, ACS warns that there may be a decline in reskilling efforts in the coming years due to a slowdown in the number of professionals changing their career. The report also found that 38% of workers looking to transition to the IT sector find it difficult to improve their digital skills due to a lack of time and financial support. Furthermore, these professionals stated that they don’t know how to transition to the IT industry.
To solve this problem, ACS suggests placing more value in short courses, certificates, and micro-credentials as a gateway into the tech industry. The organisation also implored employers to be more accepting of the alternative methods workers might take to learn digital skills.
“For Australia to remain competitive in the global digital economy, we need to ensure our workforce is equipped to handle the rapid advancements in AI and cybersecurity,” said ACS President Helen McHugh.
How Lumify Learn Can Help Bridge Australia’s IT Skills Gap
As mentioned earlier, a way to bridge the IT skills gap in Australia is through alternative learning pathways. The good news is that Lumify Learn is committed to addressing this issue by offering individuals a range of nationally accredited IT courses and vendor-endorsed bootcamps in various domains, such as:
For instance, our interactive Certified Cyber Security Professional course helps students go from zero industry experience to a job-ready cyber security role in less than six months. On the other hand, our CompTIA PenTest+ Certified Professional program is designed to provide comprehensive training and practical knowledge for real-world cyber security challenges.
Why Choose Lumify Learn?
If you’re a near tech worker looking to kickstart your journey in the IT industry, here are four big reasons why Lumify Learn is an excellent choice for IT education and career development:
Flexible Online Education
All courses we offer are conducted 100% online, so you can study anywhere and anytime you want. This also helps you save time and money by eliminating the need to travel to a campus or pay for accommodation or parking.
Furthermore, learning online allows you to balance your studies with your personal professional commitments. Finally, you can learn in a familiar or comfortable environment and develop self-discipline and digital skills — essential attributes to start an IT career.
Expert Trainers and Mentors
A successful learning experience hinges on the guidance from industry experts. Our trainers and mentors have years of experience in their respective fields, so you can be sure that you will learn from the best. They will help you learn from real-world scenarios and apply them to your lessons and assignments.
Apart from those, our trainers and mentors will also answer your questions, provide feedback, and share valuable insights.
Lumify Edge
Once you complete one of Lumify Learn’s courses, you can join Lumify Edge, our exclusive career support program. This initiative helps students bridge the gap between learning and earning through the following offerings:
Personal Rebrand: We will help you get noticed by employers through our professional resume and LinkedIn profile update service.
Career Support: Get complementary student support from our partners like ACS and e2 Cyber, among others.
Job Search Fast Track: The Lumify Edge portal makes it easy to look for jobs and manage your applications.
Exclusive Jobs: Explore job listings from our partners and the Lumify Group.
Internships: Gain real-world experience through internships, powered by career management and recruitment agency Study and Work.
Part of the Lumify Group
Finally, Lumify Learn is part of the Lumify Group, Australasia’s leading IT training provider. Lumify Group delivers on the full range of IT training for businesses and individuals in Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. It also has more than 700 courses, 11 locations, and over 100 qualified trainers, and caters to more than 30,0000 students yearly.
This means you have access to a comprehensive network of resources and expertise, so you can receive the best education and support to help you thrive in the IT industry.
Breaking into the IT industry shouldn’t be difficult. Enquire with us on a course today.