The Information Technology industry is benefitting from new student pathways involving the niche areas of animation and computer games.

But it can also prove its worth as a career path in the broader sense, with the best job opportunities in many years, combined with good pay and conditions.

That is according to CQU academic Mike Gregory who is excited about a 42% boost in internet job advertisements for IT positions in Australia over the past 12 months and a 75% boost in internet job adverts for IT positions in Queensland over the same period (according to the Olivier Internet Job Index).

Mr Gregory also notes a looming shortage of IT graduates.

"There's more IT job ads than other professional sectors and IT job ads are growing faster , " he said.

Mr Gregory said that apart from job security, IT was a great industry for other reasons.

"There's good pay, a professional career, a dynamic environment, informal work conditions, gadgets and travel opportunities," he said.

Mr Gregory said CQU was one of Australia's largest providers of IT education, so CQ region students had the benefit of leading expertise in their own backyard.

Details are available at:.

http://www.olivier.com.au/IJI_Current.html .