Digital Media

Employment snapshot

For occupations related to the Digital Media sector, employment levels have increased since 2000 for both Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers, and Graphic and Web Designers and Illustrators, though more sharply for the former. Employment levels projected to 2024 for both occupations are expected to increase, although more so for Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators. 

Training snapshot

Program enrolments rose from 8,860 in 2015 to 10,270 in 2016 but fell sharply to 4,410 in 2017 and in 2018 continued this downward trend, falling to 1,880. Program completions in this sector were more stable over this time, ranging from 610 in 2015, to a high of 730 in 2016, with a slight fall to 490 completions in 2018. Most enrolments were at certificate IV level (1,000), with a smaller number at the diploma or higher level (880). The majority of enrolments were in Digital and Interactive Games qualifications (56%), with a smaller number of enrolments in Information and Digital Media Technologies qualifications (44%).

Enrolments for the Digital and Interactive Games qualification cluster were intended for the occupation of Multimedia Specialist. Enrolments in Information and Digital Media Technologies had an intended occupation of Multimedia Designer.

The predominant training provider for this sector was TAFE institutes (58%) and to a smaller extent private training providers (32%). Subject funding for the training delivered by TAFE institutes, universities and schools came mainly from Commonwealth and state funding, while for private training providers it was mainly from international fee-for-service arrangements. The highest proportion of students were from New South Wales (31%), followed by Victoria (22%) and oversees students at (20%). Approximately 40% of training was delivered in New South Wales, followed by Victoria (22%) and Queensland (20%).

In 2018 there were 5 apprentice and trainee commencements, up from none reported in 2016 and 2017.

For more data specific to your occupation, industry or training package, visit NCVER’s VET students by industry. If you are prompted to log in, select cancel and you will continue to be directed to the program.

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According to the Information and Communications Technology IRC’s 2019 Skills Forecast, digital technologies continue to grow in Australia, with emerging and evolving technologies being key drivers of change. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are amongst these technologies.

For further industry insights on skills needs and job vacancy data, see the Information and Communications Technology industry cluster page.

Below is a list of industry-relevant organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.

Industry associations and advisory bodies

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Australian Digital and Telecommunications Industry Association

Australian Industry Group

Australian Information Industry Association

Business Council of Australia

Government

Australian Communications and Media Authority

Innovation and Science Australia

National Broadband Network

National Innovation and Science Agenda

Employee associations

Australian Computer Society

Australian Services Union (Information Technology & Business Equipment)

Communications Workers Union Australia

Information Technology Professionals Association

Relevant research

Information and Communications Technology IRC’s 2018 Skills Forecast – PwC’s Skills for Australia

Department of Employment 2018, Employment Projections, available from the Labour Market Information Portal  

• by ANZSCO, selected occupations, employment projections to May 2023
  
  • 2612 Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers
  • 2324 Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018, Employed persons by occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), sex, state and territory, August 1986 onwards, 6291.0.55.003 - EQ08, viewed 1 November 2018 http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6291.0.55.003May%202018?OpenDocument

• Employed total by ANZSCO, 2000 to 2018, May Quarter
  
  • 2612 Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers
  • 2324 Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators.

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET students and courses from the following training package or qualifications:

• ICT Information and Communications Technology Training Package
• Digital and interactive Games
  
  • ICA40911 - Certificate IV in Digital and Interactive Games
  • ICA50211 - Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games
  • ICT40915 - Certificate IV in Digital and Interactive Games
  • ICT50215 - Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games
• Information and Digital Media Technologies
  
  • ICA40805 - Certificate IV in Information Technology (Multimedia)
  • ICA40811 - Certificate IV in Digital Media Technologies
  • ICA50905 - Diploma of Information Technology (Multimedia)
  • ICA50911 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies
  • ICT40815 - Certificate IV in Digital Media Technologies
  • ICT50915 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies.

This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.

Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:

• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 program enrolments
• 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 program completions.

Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions, please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document. 

Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.

Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. This can lead to situations where the total sum of proportions in a chart may not add up to exactly 100%.