Mid-Year Momentum: What’s Shaping IT & Business Support Hiring in 2025

Australia’s job market is active and adapting. There’s growing demand across industries but also shifting expectations from both employers and candidates. The team at Whizdom have been tracking trends in IT and Business Support recruitment. As we reach the midpoint of 2025, here’s what we’re seeing, and what it means for hiring managers and job seekers.

More roles, but hiring is still competitive

Job ads are up 9.4% year-on-year across Admin, ICT, and HR, according to SEEK’s June 2025 data. However, filling those roles remains a challenge. In IT, demand for skills in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and data analytics continues to outpace supply. For example, cybersecurity job ads have grown by 18% since January, while qualified applicants per role have dropped by 12%.

Business Support roles are also adapting. Many now require digital fluency and the ability to work across departments, especially in project coordination and operations.

• For employers: Be ready to act quickly when you find strong candidates. Offer more than just salary. Flexibility, growth, and meaningful work all matter.
• For job seekers: Focus on how you solve problems. Show outcomes and achievements, not just responsibilities.

Flexibility is now the norm

According to the ABS, 71% of Australian professionals now work in some form of hybrid or remote arrangement. Among IT professionals, that number rises to 84%. Flexibility is no longer a perk; it’s a baseline expectation.

• For employers: If your job ad still requires full-time office attendance, it may be time to reconsider.
• For job seekers: Be clear about the kind of flexibility you need, and how it helps you do your best work.

Stability and growth matter

A recent LinkedIn survey found that 64% of Australian professionals would leave a role if they didn’t see a clear path for growth. Job seekers are prioritising long-term stability and meaningful work over short-term perks.

• For employers: Invest in training, internal mobility, and transparent career paths.
• For job seekers: Ask whether the role fits with your long-term goals and values.

Skills are taking priority over titles

Skills-based hiring is gaining traction. In IT, 42% of job ads now list capabilities and outcomes as more important than formal qualifications. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can demonstrate adaptability, communication, and real-world problem-solving.

• For employers: Focus on what candidates can do, not just their previous titles.
• For job seekers: Highlight what you’ve built, improved, or fixed. Don’t just list the tools you used.

What Job Seekers can do right now to get noticed

Even with more roles available, some sectors remain employer driven. This includes areas like administration, customer service, and entry-level IT support, where competition is high and employers have more choice. If you're applying in these fields, here are a few ways to stand out:

• Tailor your resume to each role. Focus on the impact you've made, not just your responsibilities.
• Learn strategically. Upskill in areas that are in demand, such as automation, data literacy, or agile project management.
• Build your network. Use LinkedIn and industry events to connect with people and learn about opportunities before they’re advertised.
• Stay open-minded. Consider roles that offer flexibility in different forms—such as contract work, hybrid arrangements, or project-based opportunities. These can lead to long-term growth, even if they look different from your ideal role at first.
• Keep perspective. Rejections are common in competitive sectors. Use feedback to improve and keep moving forward.

More Applicants are using AI: How to use it to your advantage without sacrificing personal voice

AI-generated resumes are on the rise. SEEK reports usage jumped from 10% to 25% between July 2023 and June 2024, with expectations of reaching 50%. Here’s how to use these tools effectively:

• Use AI to get started, not to finish. AI resume builders can help you generate a solid draft quickly but always personalise it with your own voice and achievements.
• Tailor with AI, then polish for impact. Let AI help match your resume to job ads. Make sure the final version reflects your unique strengths.
• Stay authentic. Recruiters can spot overly polished or robotic resumes. Use AI as a tool, not a mask. Your personality and experience should still shine through.
• Check for accuracy. Always review AI-generated content for errors or mismatched terminology. Accuracy builds trust.
• Learn from AI suggestions. Pay attention to the skills and phrases AI tools recommend. They can reveal industry trends and help you identify areas to upskill.

Final thoughts

The job market is shifting, and IT and Business Support professionals have real opportunities in the second half of 2025. The key is knowing what you want, understanding where the market is heading, and being ready to adapt.