Career snapshot: technology jobs

The impact of technology in our lives is undeniable. From smartphones to smart fridges it seems like new technology is released every day, with more and more of our lives conducted in some way on the internet.

With all of this wonderful new technology also comes new opportunities for work within the technology sector. Technology jobs are a fast-growing industry area in Australia with the sector currently employing over 580,000 people and contributing $122 billion to the economy.

This demand doesn’t look like its slowing down either, with more traditional industries incorporating tech jobs with marketing and data-driven roles in many industries becoming increasingly important-and technology dependent.

It’s big

If you considered employees across all industries in technology jobs, the tech sector would be the 9th biggest employer in Australia. What makes this all the more surprising is that Australia’s tech industry is far smaller than many other comparable countries.

So as Australia continues to invest in and grow the technology sector, so too will there be greater opportunities.

It pays well

Technology jobs pay on average $1563 per week! That is 47% more than the average personal income of $1066 for those in non-tech jobs.

You can make a difference

Being on the cutting edge of technology can mean you get the chance to work on some things that could really change the world. You could be working for a company trying to design products to deal with environmental issues or the way we conduct business online or something we didn’t even know we needed yet!

Being a part of a team with a goal to create, disrupt or innovate can also lead to better team cohesion and morale. You may find your workplace is more enjoyable to be at as you all strive towards a shared purpose.

Technology job skills

The technology sector is defined by its fast pace and that it embraces progress and change. There are however some skills that apply to any tech job and are worthwhile developing.

Adaptability

Things can change pretty quickly in the tech sector, so being able to manage new business goals or shifts in priorities is a great skill to have. Depending on the particular job you have you could be working on projects that are wildly different from week to week, so you need to be able to change speed or refocus quickly.

Willing to learn.

Given the rapid change within the technology industry, it’s very important to keep up with the latest skills and software. If you have a curious mind and are always looking to learn new things the tech sector may be a good fit for you.

Problem solving skills

There are many challenges you will face every day in most tech jobs that require logic and reasoning skills to overcome. Sometimes these problems won’t have immediate solutions so you will need to be both persistent and comfortable with a bit of chaos.

Comfortable with numbers

You won’t need to be a math whiz but working with numbers will likely form at least some part of your role. If you want a tech job and your skills are a bit weak, you could speak to your consultant about your options.

The SEE program which is focused on literacy and numeracy skills for employment, could help you close that skill gap.

There are so many types of tech jobs you could do, it just depends on what your skill set is and where your passions lie.

Creative

The games industry in Australia is continuing to grow significantly and this could be a great place for you to start if you have some creative flair. Many of the roles do require university degrees to start however you could find roles entry-level roles after doing some coding courses.

freeCodeCamp offer many courses in a range of specialisations that are free and enough to get your foot in the door.

If your creative flair lies more in the realm of photography, video, or writing, digital marketing might be the right fit for you. Many entry-level jobs exist in this growing part of the industry and a portfolio is more important than a degree in many cases.

Data-driven

Data is the greatest tool many businesses have to reach their customers in the digital age. People that can make sense of all that data are becoming increasingly in demand as a result. Surprisingly it isn’t a hard field to break into because many of the skills required can be learnt along the way.

Search engine optimisation is a great way to break into big data as they rarely require degrees and many big companies have their own specialists, not just marketing companies.

If Google isn’t your game there are plenty of other data jobs out there you may just have to get the hang of Power BI with some free courses from Microsoft.

Hands-on

If you are more interested in being outside and using your hands on things other than a keyboard, a trades role might be better. Technology is increasingly becoming more complex in jobs like electricians and mechanics the skills you learn on the job in these trades can lead to the more complex engineering roles or tech-focused jobs in agriculture, mining, construction or defence.

If you have thought about trying to find a job within the tech sector but aren’t sure how your skills stack up, you can always take our digital literacy short course. This course is for those that are looking for a new start but want to make sure their basic tech skills are up to scratch.

You can always speak to your consultant or one of the team to work out if it’s suitable for you