Migrant workers are filling the digital skills gap at a rate 10 times above the national average, an AIMIA salary survey has found.
About 10% of the digital industry workforce are on a migrant visa, which is well above the national average of 1% in other industries. The study, which polled 507 digital workers, is another indicator of how much of a problem Australia has with producing STEM skills.
“We know that there is a significant skills gap within many areas of the digital, media and marketing landscape and the high proportion of 457 visa holders within the digital industry reflects the demand for ‘ready made’ skilled executives,” AIMA chief executive Jodie Sangster says.
The study found the skills shortage has provided digital workers with mobility. A high proportion of professionals in Melbourne (87%) and Sydney (83%) said they are open to changing employers, compared to 65% elsewhere in Australia.
It has also allowed digital workers to earn a good median salary - $101,000 for men and $85,000 for women. The gender salary pay gap of 15% is marginally better than the national average of 17.62%.
More than half (55%) of digital professionals in Sydney and Melbourne would move for a pay increase of 20% or less, while a 30% rise would attract three quarters of workers.
By job category, senior executives command a salary of $200,000, Ecommerce $120,000 and sales staff earn $110,000, while the lowest paid area is social media and marketing at $75,000. The highest paid role is head of digital channels, earning an average fo $250,000.
Client service professionals are the most likely to move while data analysts and strategy professionals the least likely.
Digital workers in Sydney are on the best pay packet, with a median salary that is 10% higher than other parts of the country.
The highest proportion of digital workers are in corporations (32%), followed by digital media (29%), digital agencies (23%) and IT vendors (14%).
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