More Than Money Salary Guide | Canberra Hiring Market Insights

Market Overview

Over the last 12 months, the market has slowed down, with fewer roles on offer. We expect this trend to continue over the next 12 months, as many employers face ongoing budget pressures that will likely persist well into the new financial year.

In Canberra, the market has been particularly volatile due to the change in government, a crackdown on consulting firms, and the Defence Strategic Reform. It is no longer a candidate-favoured market, with significant competition for the roles being released. We’ve seen market rates stabilize and anticipate a slight decrease over the next 12 months to align with employer budgets. Additionally, there has been a strong push to enhance APS capability with permanent employees and a concerted effort from businesses to have employees and contractors return to the office more permanently.

In the last six months, budget pressures across many government departments and the crackdown on consulting firms have further slowed down work. Despite the volatility caused by the crackdown on consultants and the push for APS staff, most departments remain optimistic about receiving budgets that align with their goals as funds start to trickle down.

Rob Ning

Canberra Managing Director

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Candidate needs

Flexible or hybrid working arrangements is still number 1 – on the contrary, we are seeing more people being open to full-time office work if all other conditions are right.
Working on stable and fully funded projects – with the budget pressures of the last 12 months, we are seeing more candidates seek environments that are funded, or part thereof.
Candidates preference is still toward contracting due to the lucrative rates in Canberra, however, more are open to perm if the salary expectations are right.

Business needs

Candidates who show flexibility on rates and are prepared to meet client expectations.
Candidates who hold current security clearances are still in demand. Preferred working locations aren’t as high as clients are seeking the right candidates and are prepared to show flexibility on remote working, if needed. We are seeing this especially with highly niche technical skills.
Permanent candidates – push to convert contractors to perm.

The year ahead

As we approach an election year, the team at Talent Canberra is optimistic about the next 12 months. There will be strong investment into the Future Made in Australia initiative, which promises to create new opportunities for growth and innovation. The continued investment in AI and the digital government push, including initiatives such as myGov and DigitalID, are paving the way for a more technologically advanced and efficient public sector. Additionally, the focus on growing the tech workforce pipeline through STEM and education systems is a testament to the commitment to nurturing talent and driving progress in the industry. While challenges remain, we are excited about the prospects that lie ahead and believe there will be plenty of work around as departments start to embrace the People Panel on a regular basis to allow agencies to assist with hiring needs.

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Canberra

Talent Insights

Tech Talent

13k technology professionals with an average tenure of 1.7 years

(source: LinkedIn Talent Insights)

Gender Identity

% Female

% Male

*This information has been retrieved from sources with gender binary data. We acknowledge those who do not fit within this framework and understand there are more gender identities beyond the binary.

(source: LinkedIn Talent Insights)

Top Employers

Defence Australia
ACT Government
Australian Government
The Australian National University
Services Australia

(source: LinkedIn Talent Insights)

Top Skills

Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Power BI
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Analytical Skills
R (Programming Language)

Living in

Canberra

AUS

Have you always dreamed of owning a large block of land and not being crammed into the rat race of Sydney or Melbourne? Then Canberra is the place for you. Centrally located, two hours from the snow, two hours from the beach and three hours from Sydney, Canberra offers the ultimate lifestyle for the active individual or family. Foodies are well looked after too, with a thriving bar and restaurant scene, Canberra has 10 recently hatted restaurants to choose from.

While house prices can be on the higher side, the value for money is second to none whether you are a first home buyer looking to jump into the property market or seeking a forever home. The push for more apartments across the suburban landscape has meant that there is more available for first home buyers or investors at reasonable prices.

With a large number of educational options available, Canberra offers the community hundreds of programs through a number of private and public education systems as well as higher education options, including a technical institute, delivering world-class education which is highly regarded and offers something for everyone.