Public sector technology workers are becoming an endangered species in Queensland with the latest figures suggesting their numbers fell 24 per cent in the past 18 months.

Released on Tuesday, the Queensland Public Service Workforce Quarterly Profile counted 4315 full-time information communication technology (ICT) roles in December last year, down from the 5670 roles identified by the whole-of-government ICT audit in September 2012.

Out of work: The Queensland public service is employing fewer people in technology. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

Their ranks will be further reduced when the government offloads its commercial technology services bureau CITEC, slated for sale by August 2015. The agency employs about 400 staff and is the government’s primary ICT service provider.

In addition, an undisclosed number of contract ICT workers lost their jobs between March and June 2012 after the Newman government issued a ban on contract hires across the public service.