ANZSCO: 2613

SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMERS

design, develop, test, maintain and document program code in accordance with user
requirements, and system and technical specifications.
This Unit Group contains the following occupations included on the 2012 Skilled Occupation
List (SOL):
261311 Analyst Programmer
261312 Developer Programmer
261313 Software Engineer
Indicative Skill Level
Most occupations in this Unit Group have a level of skill commensurate with a Bachelor degree
or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience and/or relevant vendor
certification may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience
and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO
Skill Level 1).
Specialised Occupation Criteria
Long lead time
Software and Applications Programmers partially meet the criteria of long lead time as entry to
the occupation of Software Engineer requires a substantial training commitment.
Employment as a Software Engineer generally requires the completion of a university
qualification of at least four years study (full-time equivalent), such as a Bachelor of Software
Engineering. Note: sampling of university courses for Analyst Programmer and Developer
Programmer shows employment as such generally requires the completion of a three year
university qualification only, therefore not meeting long lead time.
High use
Software and Applications Programmers meet one aspect of the criteria for high use, showing
that the skills which people have acquired through education and training are being deployed for
the uses intended.
Of new graduates employed as Software and Applications Programmers, 69% had studied in a
related field, such as computer science, information systems or other information technology
areas (Australian Graduate Survey, 2010).
As professionals, Software and Applications Programmers are expected to have a level of skill
commensurate with a Bachelor degree or higher qualification. Of those employed as Software
and Applications Programmers, 78% were found to possess this level of skill (ABS Survey of
Education and Work, 2011).
High risk
Software and Applications Programmers also meet the criteria for high risk/high disruption. This
indicates that shortage of skills causes significant cost to the community and/or economy.
Software and Applications Programmers are important to meet government policy priorities.
These include the capacity to deliver services effectively and efficiently and to expand the
availability of Information Communication Technologies (ICT), the National Broadband
Network, and DoHA and State Government E-Health projects.

SOL Summary
Employment of Software and Applications Programmers has increased strongly by 24.2% over
the past five years and is projected to increase a further 7.2% to 2015-16. The unemployment
rate for this Unit Group is lower than the all occupations unemployment rate.
Domestic higher education enrolments decreased by 1.9% and completions declined by 42.6%
over the past five years, indicating supply is not keeping pace with demand over this period and
into the medium to longer term.
Each of the five submissions received in relation to this occupation supported retention on the
2012 SOL, citing a number of issues which will promote continued demand, including: the
NBN; growth in IT security concerns; and boom in social networking development.
The evidence indicates the demand for Analyst Programmer, Developer Programmer, and
Software Engineer is expected to exceed supply over the medium to longer term.
These occupations are included on the 2012 SOL but continue to be flagged for further
monitoring of labour market conditions due to slightly below-average student outcomes.
261314 Software Tester has not been included on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
Software Tester is included on the Specialised Occupation List (SpOL).
This occupation is generally less skilled than the other occupations in this Unit Group: Analyst
Programmers, Developer Programmers and Software Engineers. Only 56% of Software Testers
had a Bachelor degree or higher compared with an average of 73% for the other three
occupations (2006 Census).
Software and Applications Programmers nec [not elsewhere classified] are not included on the
Specialised Occupation List (SpOL) and therefore were not considered for inclusion on the
SOL.
.

Occupation trends
ANZSCO: 2613

Software and Applications Programmers

Employment level
85 500 Almost all workers are employed full-time (92.6%).
6 digit employment
(2006 Census) 2613-11 Analyst Programmer 8450
2613-12 Developer Programmer 24 120
2613-13 Software Engineer 16 570
2613-14 Software Tester n/a
2613-99 Software and Applications Programmers nec 2390
Employment growth Over the five years to November 2011, employment in this occupation
increased by 24.2% (compared with growth of 10.4% for all occupations). Employment over the
next five years is expected to increase by 7.2%.
Unemployment rate 2.1% compared with 3.1% for all occupations.
Educational profile 78.0% have a Bachelor degree or higher qualification.
Vacancies
The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) fell by 16.1% over the 12 months to November
2011. Vacancies for all occupations fell by 7.1%.
Gender15.4% of workers in this occupation are female (compared with 45.5% for all occupations).
Labour turnover
Annually, 7.7% of Business and Systems Analysts, and Programmers (which
includes Software and Applications Programmers) leave their occupation group, creating some
potential job openings (this compares with 14.2% across all occupations).
Age profile The median age is 36 years and 24.7% of workers are aged 45 years and over
(compared with 38.5% for all occupations).
Earnings
Median full-time weekly earnings (before tax) are $1442 compared with $1050 for
all occupations.
Graduate outcomes Data from Graduate Careers Australia indicate that 73.6% of students
completing a Bachelor degree in the field of information technology in 2009 (and who were
available for full-time work) were in full-time employment four months after graduating, below the
average for all Bachelor degree graduates (76.2%), and weaker than the outcome for graduates from
the previous two years.
Skill shortagesNot assessed.
Labour market
2613-11 Analyst Programmer
Not assessed
2613-12 Developer Programmer
Not assessed
2613-13 Software Engineer
Not assessed
2613-14 Software Tester
Not assessed
Software and Applications Programmers Employed Persons Nov 2001 to Nov 2011 graph has been
removed to enable this document to be available to people with information accessibility needs.
The image is included in the PDF version of this publication.
Software and Applications Programmers Internet Vacancy Index 3 monthly average Nov 2006 to
Nov 2011 graph has been removed to enable this document to be available to people with
information accessibility needs. The image is included in the PDF version of this publication.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

January 2012