IT business confidence is returning to Adelaide. From record low levels in February 2009, confidence is now approaching levels of the ‘boom’ years 2003-2005.

South Australia’s economy is continuing to perform strongly with labour force participation at near-record levels and huge mining potential with surging exploration and production set to follow.

The Queensland market remains challenging. While business confidence is slowly strengthening and a mood of cautious optimism prevails, companies are tending to focus on balance-sheet issues ahead of investment in new or expanded IT capabilities.

Over the past three months there has only been a slight increase in demand for contract and permanent IT staff, with the majority of demand being driven by business-as-usual projects.

Over the past three months there has been a general constriction in both project and business-as-usual funding, which is creating a backlog of projects and infrastructure upgrade requirements in the Canberra market.

Over the past three months, demand for ICT staff has continued to improve in Melbourne. The general tenor is of cautious optimism as large businesses, especially in the financial services sector, re-engage with projects that had been shelved during the downturn.

Over the past three months the Perth market has sustained the gradual firming in demand experienced in the second quarter of calendar 2009, particularly for permanent ICT staff.

Demand for permanent ICT staff is rising – especially for sales roles, a sign that employers are looking forward to increasing commercial opportunities in the short to medium term.