24 July, 2009     A survey of more than 1,800 Australian teens released today by the Australian Computer Society (the nation’s peak body for ICT professionals) reveals that being an IT or Technology Professional is currently the most desirable career options for teens.

In a marked shift away from the stereotyped image of an IT professional, only 5% thought a career in technology was “geeky” or “boring” - with almost a third of teens surveyed citing innovation as the leading characteristic of a technology career.

The national online survey of 1,820 Australian and New Zealanders aged 12 to 18 years old was conducted by teenage researcher Habbo (www.habbo.com.au), Australia’s most popular online playground for teenagers with 307,395 1 unique visitors a month. An equal number of female and males participated in the survey, with respondents from each state and territory.

When teens were asked which careers they were most interested in, teens choose the following as their favourites:

1. IT & Technology Professionals

2. Design-Graphics & Interior

3. Musician/Entertainer

4. Actor/Actress

5. Teacher

6. Fashion – Designing and Merchandising

7. Doctor

8. Animation & Gaming

The results also provide an insight into how Australian teens perceive ICT careers. The majority (30%) of respondents said they thought about “being on the edge of new technological developments” when considering a career in technology.

Nearly a quarter (21%) of teens thought a career in technology was pretty cool, whilst 15% associated technology with a career that earns a lot of money.

Of technology employers, the following company brands were voted the most popular amongst teens (in order of preference): Google, Nintendo, Apple, Microsoft, Myspace, and Sony.

ACS Chairman Kumar Parakala said brands associated with ‘cool’ innovations such as Google, Apple and Nintendo have assisted with this shift in attitude and appeal in ICT careers. The access to technology information and equipment within both home and schools has also played a role, he said.

“Many Australian teens are more computer literate than their parents, study ICT related subjects at school and are provided with technology equipment. The foundation for attracting more students into ICT careers has been laid. Now the industry needs to showcase the career paths available to students – particularly as the world has been dramatically changed by the global financial crisis,” he said.

On the 27th July –1st August the ACS, together with the AIIA will host the 2nd inaugural National ICT Careers Week, to demonstrate the dynamic career opportunities available to graduates. This week will give students from around Australia the chance to look at the potential lifestyle and career achievements they could have in their future.

Jeff Brookes, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Habbo and a Generation Z expert said: “The results demonstrate that Generation Z are career-minded and that technology and innovation are high on their agenda when it comes to decisions about their future. Australian teens want to be where the action is and for them being on the edge of technological developments is most important to them. Australia’s teenagers are truly a digital generation and research showed that technology careers as more popular than more traditional careers such as doctor, teacher or lawyer, demonstrates that their career choices reflect this.”

When asked if they planned to study technology related subjects the majority (31%) of teens said they would do so at TAFE or university, 28% said they might and 19% said they were undecided. When teens were asked if they had started thinking about their career options, 91% said they had with over half (56%) of the respondents revealing they had thought about their career options a lot, 35% had thought about career options a few time times and 9% hadn’t or were undecided.

From a media release by ACS, 24 July 2009 

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