The latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS) Spotlight examines recruitment trends in Australia’s Information Technology (IT) industry, revealing a shift in employer concerns and subdued hiring activity.
Results show that IT employers’ concerns have shifted in recent years, from recruitment and retention challenges to a lack of demand for products or services. This shift is likely to have contributed to lower recruitment activity and weaker employment expectations, although the effect cannot be quantified.
In 2025–26, the IT industry recruitment rate was 32%, well below the all-industry average of 49%. Employment expectations were also subdued, with just 16% of IT employers expecting to increase staffing in the following 3 months, the lowest level in recent years.
Competition for vacancies was strong. Around 34% of recruiting IT employers received 20 or more applicants per vacancy, the second-highest proportion among industry subdivisions analysed.
The findings suggest recruitment difficulties in the IT industry may be more closely linked to technical skill mismatches or an oversupply of candidates than a broad shortage of applicants.
Explore the latest REOS Spotlight to learn more about recruitment experiences and employment expectations in Australia’s IT industry.
