IT Workforce Insights Report
Clicks’ IT Workforce Insights report gives IT hiring managers an invaluable look behind the curtain and into the mindset of Australian IT job seekers. This report will empower you to make employment offers that are aligned exactly to the market’s needs. Not only will the data in this report help inform your recruitment strategies, it will support your retention plans too.
The 2026-27 report is now available
Key Findings from the 2026-27 IT Workforce Insights Report
- Wage growth has weakened further across the IT workforce. Just 36% of respondents received a pay increase over the past twelve months, the lowest result in the comparative data back to 2015, while a record 45% reported no change. Outcomes varied significantly by skill area, with 47% of Data & Analytics professionals receiving an increase compared with just 26% in Cyber & Security.
- Confidence in the IT job market remains historically weak, although sentiment appears to have stabilised. Just 23% of respondents feel optimistic about the market, compared with 44% who are pessimistic, broadly unchanged from last year and well below the 66% optimism recorded at the market peak in 2022. Queensland recorded the highest level of pessimism at 55%, followed by Victoria at 48% and NSW at 45%.
- Recruitment processes continue to have a direct impact on candidate conversion. More than one quarter of respondents experienced a hiring process lasting five weeks or longer, including 12% whose process extended beyond eight weeks. 37% have withdrawn from a recruitment process because it took too long, while an unsatisfactory recruitment experience now accounts for 15% of rejected offers, the highest level recorded in the report.
- AI and automation are now a common part of the job-seeking experience, but candidate sentiment remains cautious. 60% of respondents encountered AI or automation while looking for work, up from 57% last year, while 45% believe these tools impair the job-seeking experience. Despite these concerns, only 15% would reject an offer or leave an application process solely because AI was involved, reinforcing the importance of human oversight and transparency.
“The IT employment market has become more complicated. Confidence remains weak and wage growth has slowed, yet a significant proportion of technology professionals remain open to new opportunities. At the same time, high application volumes do not necessarily mean employers are finding the right talent more easily. For hiring organisations, the challenge is increasingly about identifying the right fit, understanding what motivates quality candidates to move, and keeping them engaged throughout the recruitment process.”
Tamara Ryf, CEO
Clicks IT Recruitment
Our team of experts average 12 years of recruitment experience.
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