Jobs in the Territory’s Information Technology sector surged by 8.7 per cent this year, according to a new economic report.

The Australian Computer Society Digital Pulse annual report, prepared by Deloitte Access Economics, indicated that the Territory’s IT workforce currently employs 4,889 employees, an increase of 8.7 per cent over the previous year’s numbers.

The growth underscores the importance of technology across industries and government, the report said.

“We expect the Territory’s tech sector to employ over 5,000 people next year which will contribute to the Territory’s economic growth, requiring us to focus on creating pathways for more Territorians to enter the IT profession and have long-term careers in a sector that provides opportunities,” ACS NT chairman Damian Charles said.

Deloitte Access Economics partner and co-author of the Digital Pulse series John O’Mahony said individuals can earn, on average, an extra $11,000 every year in salary in tech occupations compared with other professional occupations.

“If we can boost diversity in the technology workforce it could be worth over $20 billion to [the Australian] economy over the next two decades,” Mr O’Mahony said.

In its report, ACS recommends seven measures to address the nation’s technology skills needs that include developing and promoting workplace policies to encourage diverse technology talent, providing schoolteachers with more resources to improve student digital literacy and increase awareness, promoting greater coordination between agencies to develop skills in the technology workforce, encouraging businesses to deepen digital skills, finding ways to retain existing technology talent in Australia, encouraging employers to consider more diverse pathways into the technology sector, and boosting government and industry investment in the technology sector.

Australia’s IT workforce grew by eight per cent from last year, with more than 870,000 Australians now working in IT roles. By comparison, the country’s entire workforce grew only by 3.4 per cent.

The report cited that the IT sector will be employing more than 1.2 million Australians in the next five years translating to an annual growth rate of 5.5 per cent.

Currently, only 31 per cent of technology workers are women, compared to 48 per cent of all workers across the Australian workforce.

ACS is the professional association for Australia’s technology sector. ACS members work across business, education, government, and the community delivering the digital services essential to the nation’s prosperity and security.