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A new report launched by Deloitte Access Economics and the Australian Computer Society has found with projected growth in Queensland for ICT professionals at 1.6 per cent annually, compared to the national average of 2.5 per cent, Queensland is fertile ground for the burgeoning ICT industry.
Which is what the Palaszczuk Government is banking on.
Annastacia Palaszczuk made it clear she wanted the knowledge and research industries to be the "core" of her government's first budget, with its $180 million Advance Queensland policy to form the foundation of its plan.
The Deloitte/ACS report, due to be released on Thursday afternoon, found Queensland sits third in the ICT sector rankings, presently employing just under 97,000 people.
But with the mining sector in decline and Queensland hunting for its next boom, ACS president Brenda Aynsley expects to see demand for ICT skills jump.
"Queensland is an economy in transition which makes it the perfect place for the digital economy to make an impact," she said.
"With the slowdown in resources employment, there is a real opportunity for organisations in Queensland to develop a new and vibrant workforce."
Which is exactly what the minister for science and innovation, Leeanne Enoch wants to see.
"An important aspect highlighted in the report is the declining number of ICT graduates in Australia over the past decade – a decade that has been fuelled by incredible advances in technology," she said.
"Fortunately, Queensland is in a better position than some of the other states - for example, we've had the collaborative Digital Careers initiative operating since 2007.
"Queensland has led the nation in promoting the rewarding nature of digital-related studies and careers to our younger generation.
"... We want to continue in the right direction. A future schools review will look at how we can expand STEM, coding, computer science and robotics into our schools.
"The challenges and opportunities raised in the report will require a committed effort from government, industry, business and education institutions."
Ms Palaszczuk, in announcing her Advance Queensland package, Ms Palaszczuk said she "firmly believed" early stage robotics should be taught in schools, along with coding and computer science.
