Information Technology

The information technology (IT) and computing industry includes people working for companies that produce and service IT products, and people who work in IT-related occupations within other industries. IT is a crucial component in the day-to-day operations of most organisations and is expected to play an important role in New Zealand’s economic growth in the future.In global terms, New Zealand produces a relatively small amount of IT products. However, the country is positioning itself to become a destination for offshore outsourcing of high-level IT services, including application development, software architecture and system design. This will present significant opportunities for New Zealand firms and should have a positive effect on employment for skilled IT professionals.

Technical skills are still crucial for a career in IT, so a degree in computing, IT or related is expected. However, emphasis is increasingly being placed on IT employees having greater interaction with clients and users throughout an organisation. As a result, communication and people skills are increasingly important requirements.

The range of occupational pathways in IT continues to expand as technology penetrates more and more aspects of daily life. Potential entry-level occupations for graduates and postgraduates are:

  • Computer scientist
  • Applications programmer
  • IT Support Officer
  • Database administrator
  • Internet or web developer
  • Software engineer
Outlook

While the industry is no longer growing as rapidly as it was in the early 1990s, it has recovered from the setback of the dot-com bust in the late 1990s and overspending related to the year 2000. Currently most IT related jobs are on the government long term skills shortage list. Factors contributing to the current growth in the industry include:

  • General confidence in the New Zealand economy is resulting in investment in IT projects
  • e-government initiatives supporting innovation
  • New Zealand IT companies increasingly pitching for overseas projects
  • Mergers and restructures which create IT integration projects
  • Government initiatives to accelerate growth in the IT industry, particularly through exports
  • Although job opportunities in IT are growing, there is a steady supply of new IT graduates from the tertiary education system. An estimated 3000 IT degree were awarded in 2005 (New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee survey reports 2005).
Significant stats
  • There are approximately 41,000 people working in ICT in New Zealand (2006). Industry and government research suggest that 125,000 will be needed to work in the industry by 2012.
  • In 2006: total sales of information and communication technology (ICT) goods and services rose 7.9 percent to $17.6 billion; total exports of ICT goods and services increased 19.9 percent to $1,610 million; electronic devices and equipment was the leading exported ICT commodity, with 32.5 percent of total sales; government operating expenditure on ICT was $1.1 billion (Government use of Information and Communication Technology 2006 – www.stats.govt.nz)

Statistics sources:Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL); NZ, Department of Labour; Statistics New Zealand

Except where indicated, this profile is based on edited extracts from www.careers.govt.nz