The forthcoming rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) will see a range of IT jobs in Australia developed.

It will be undertaken by NBN Co and is expected to generate 25,000 positions during the project's lifetime, in construction, engineering and IT, the Australian reports.

Concerns have been raised about potential skills shortages in professional IT staff because of the numbers required to complete the scheme and the firm is likely to look overseas for experts to join its staff.

The news source suggested that NBN Co will triple the number of people it employs to 300 by mid-2010 and is also planning to hire workers for new administrative and secretarial jobs.

Having taken a pledge not to poach talent from rival firms, the company is expected to turn its attention abroad to seek the expertise needed to complete the infrastructure project.

However, Huawei Australia spokesman Luke Coleman explained that the firm has not struggled to expand its local team in Australia and does not foresee any problems in the future.

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicated high levels of underemployment in the country.