IT help desk support was the most sought after job across Australia in January, according to the February SEEK Employment Index.
The index also reported that job ads rose 7.1 percent across all industries in January, continuing the upward trend – 31.8 per cent since June 2009 - in the market.
IT help desk support edged out administration receptionists and retail sales assistants to become the most competitive occupation – or the category with the most candidates.
IT architects also placed fifth in January’s most sought after employees, beaten by university lecturers, property managers, construction estimators and nurses and midwives.
In a statement, SEEK employment managing director, Joe Powell, said the start to 2010 was reassuring.
“The steady recovery of the labour market now seems to be showing a clear trend in the right direction,” Powell said. “Looking at the trend in new job ads, it would appear that unemployment has peaked below the higher figures widely anticipated and a recovery could be forming.”
IT job ads decreased slightly in January, down 0.28 percent, and fell behind the national average, according to the latest results released earlier this week by the Olivier Job Index.
Across the board job ads rose 3.59 percent according to Olivier, and grew faster than the previous two Januaries.
Meanwhile, a recruitment expert has warned job seekers to stop focusing on job security to obtain a more rewarding career.
Last week, recruitment firm Hudson released its latest ICT salary guide, which showed recovery in the IT jobs market could begin to take its toll on contract positions.
The 2010 ICT Salary Guide predicted that companies will reduce their contract positions in favour of permanent staff this year.
The guide also revealed ICT projects put on hold during 2009 will pick up again.