The Northern Territory Government hopes to help meet the growing digital worker demand with investment in skills development. Photo: Department of Corporate and Digital Development, Northern Territory Government.
The Northern Territory’s digital workforce is set to double, with the government expecting it to grow from 5100 workers to more than 10,000 over the next 10 years.
The CLP Government is investing in digital skills across the Northern Territory, hoping to meet demand with schemes such as Digital Futures 2026, which connects Territorians to opportunities in the digital space.
Digital Futures was held at Charles Darwin University’s Danala campus on 14 September, offering engaging, practical experiences with technology, designed to inspire interest in the digital sector and demonstrate the career opportunities.
This year’s theme was ”Developing Your Future Mindset”, which focused on building individual adaptability, problem-solving and creativity: valuable skills for the digital age.
“The Territory’s digital workforce is forecast to double over the next decade,” Minister for Corporate and Digital Development Joshua Burgoyne said in the lead-up to the event.
“That represents enormous opportunities for Territorians, but we must ensure we are building the skills and workforce needed to meet that demand.
“That’s why events like Digital Futures are so important. We are giving Territorians the opportunity to see themselves in the careers of the future, connect with industry experts and explore the possibilities technology can create.”
Speakers at Digital Futures included tech executive, Olympic skier and leadership expert Alisa Camplin AM, educator and video game developer Dylan Bennett and AI governance specialist and legal strategist Guzyal Hill.
Data from the Australian Computer Society shows that the national tech workforce contributes almost $134 billion to the economy and an additional 230,000 tech workers are needed by the end of the decade.
“Technology is changing the way we live, learn and work faster than ever before, creating new opportunities, new industries and new careers,” Mr Burgoyne said.
“Our government is investing in the digital sector to ensure Territorians have the skills they need for the jobs being created in our growing digital economy and supporting our local businesses to embrace new tools and technologies.”
The emphasis on the digital workforce is part of the government’s broader priority to rebuild the economy.
