Demand for ICT skills experienced a ‘reasonably sound’ level during the first quarter of 2013, according to the Peoplebank Salary Index.

Peoplebank CEO, Peter Acheson, said the overall demand reflected the national forecast of modest economic growth in 2013, but a closer examination revealed a significant variation. Solid demand for ICT skills in the larger markets were tempered by patchy conditions in the nation’s smaller cities, he said.

The index covers remuneration levels in more than 50 IT sector roles in each major capital, based on actual salaries being paid in the last quarter.

“There can be no doubt in 2013’s headwinds – continued global uncertainties and a Federal election ahead, this won’t be a year of easy gains for ICT professionals,” Acheson said. “However, there are numbers of pivotal ICT projects in the pipeline, in both the public and private sectors. I’m confident that, on the back of these, there will be solid opportunities for people within industry to advance their careers in the months ahead.”

According to Peoplebank, there was little movement in rates and salaries, with remuneration levels remaining largely unchanged in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, while Western Australia experienced spot increases. South Australia saw both increases and decreases on the back of local demand. Queensland saw salary decreases of about 5%, with the salary for a senior business analyst in Brisbane dropping from AUD125,000 a year ago, to AUD109,000.

The ICT job market in NSW and Victoria has been solid during the past three months, mainly due to projects across banking and utilities sectors and projects associated with regulatory change, according to the index.

Hiring was strong in Western Australia as it experiences increasing demands for IT skills. Pay rises were in order for specialist architects and business analysts.

South Australia ICT job market has been impacted by slower investment and state government spending constraints, while Queensland continues to experience difficult conditions in the ICT sector and broader economy. ACT saw a drop in demand for ICT skills, dipping 30% due to end of the financial year and the election period creating financial constraints.