Industry-validated pathways that connect learners to jobs in Australia's growing tech sector.
Developed in partnership with ACS and C4 Digital.
Demand for tech capability is growing, but entry points into tech careers are not clearly defined or consistently understood. More than 1.1 million Australians in non-tech roles are already building skills relevant to tech yet face barriers to transition. Learning Pathways into Technology Careers identifies the roles and skills employers require, creating a shared reference point for employers, training providers and learners.
The pathways
Nine pathways span 34 of Australia’s most in-demand entry-level tech roles. Each is described through individual role profiles, detailing the skills, capabilities and attributes employers are hiring for, supporting skills-based hiring from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds.
The report
The pathways are built on a skills-led analysis of more than 40,000 job advertisements, validated through consultation with industry, education and government stakeholders, and mapped against globally recognised frameworks. The accompanying report sets out the methodology and findings in full.
A shared evidence base for entry into the tech sector.
The pathways are supported by the NSW Digital Skills Compact, which brings together leaders from industry, education and training, and government, as well as peak bodies including The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) and the Tech Council of Australia.
Informed by consultation with industry, education and government stakeholders, Learning Pathways into Technology Careers provides an evidence base to reset existing ICT qualifications across VET, while signalling clearly to universities the skills most in demand. This work provides a building block for broader skills system alignment, including tertiary harmonisation.
Learning Pathways into Technology Careers was released in June 2026. The report and pathway visualisations reflect data and analysis available during the Entry Level Pathways project and are not being actively updated at this time.
Watch the launch webinar for Learning Pathways into Technology Careers, hosted by our CEO Patrick Kidd OBE OAM.
The session features a presentation of the pathways and key findings by the Australian Computer Society, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A with:
- Betsy Gregg, Australian Computer Society
- Yasminka Nemet, Microsoft
- Laura Scott, Anyway
- Peter Marinis, Hays
Learn why entry-level tech pathways matter, how they can be used by employers, training providers and learners, and what comes next for training reform and skills-based hiring.
Recorded 18 June 2026.
Who the pathways are for
The pathways are designed for use across industry, the VET sector, government and beyond.
Employers and hiring managers
A shared, skills-based framework for defining entry-level role requirements and assessing candidates, supporting skills-based hiring from traditional and non-traditional backgrounds.
RTOs and educators
Evidence to align qualifications and curriculum with the skills employers are demanding, including where current training aligns and where gaps remain.
Government and workforce planners
A tested approach to connecting labour market demand, training design and occupational classification, built to be updated over time.
Learners and career changers:
Clear visibility of how VET qualifications connect to specific roles, including recognition of transferable skills developed outside the tech sector.
Key findings
The findings show that entry-level technology demand spans technical, coordination and transferable capability, not technical skill alone.
Communication leads demand
Stakeholder relationship management is the most in-demand skill at entry level and the largest gap in current ICT training.
Job-readiness is the baseline
Employers are not hiring supervised beginners. They expect entry-level hires to apply skills independently and adapt from day one.
A 70% gap between demand and definitions
There is a 70% gap between the skills employers are actively hiring for and how those roles are defined in current occupational classifications.
Tech capability is hybrid
Employers consistently require a combination of technical, coordination and transferable skills. Technical proficiency alone does not meet employer demand.
Nine pathways, 34 roles
Nine pathways into the tech sector, spanning 34 entry-level role profiles with structured connections to VET training.
Pathways need active stewardship
The pace of change in employer demand means a regular refresh cycle is needed to keep the pathways aligned with workforce needs.
Full report
The full report sets out the methodology and detailed findings behind the nine pathways and 34 entry-level role profiles. Read the full report for deeper detail on the evidence, framework mapping and recommendations.
Have questions about the pathways or the report?
We welcome your feedback and enquiries at hello@futureskillsorganisation.com.au