Looking to relocate and work in Australia? Check out this list of the country’s most High-Demand Occupations and the qualifications required for permanent employment.
In Australia, employment statistics are used to determine the number of occupations in which residents work, taking into account factors such as economic opportunities, education levels, and societal aspirations. Alongside educational qualifications and individual income, occupation serves as a key indicator of the country’s socioeconomic status and skill base.
Several industries are currently experiencing a surge in demand, including technology, construction, healthcare, and medicine. More than half of the positions listed have a median salary of over $100,000, with all of them offering salaries over $8,000.
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The top High-Demand Occupations in Australia
- Full stack developer, followed by data scientist, technology assistant, and information systems manager. These are also some of the highest-paying jobs, with technology assistant topping the list with an average salary of $141,738.
- Registered nurses are also in high demand, particularly in oncology, primary care, maternity, and lead nursing roles.
- Australia’s real estate and construction sector is driving demand for lead carpenters, electricians, senior landscape architects, field engineers, and surveying engineers.
- Other specialized positions that are currently in high demand include financial analysts, cybersecurity professionals, application developers, site managers, executive assistants, change analysts, social workers, and civil engineering professionals.
If you’re looking to relocate to Australia and work in one of these in-demand professions, make sure to obtain the necessary qualifications and experience required for permanent employment.
Australia’s most sought-after professions
- As businesses place more emphasis on generating revenue through finance rather than operations, commercial analysts have become highly sought-after
- Data analysts with both hard and soft skills, who can collect and manage data using digital tools while communicating evidence for decision-making purposes
- Digital marketing analysts with expertise in digital marketing and the ability to execute a complete marketing strategy
- As the need to reduce risk and improve cyber processes increases, cybersecurity specialists are in high demand
- Developers with skills in popular tools like PHP, Drupal, Native iOS and Android, and Microsoft SQL BI are highly sought-after
- Business development managers are needed to drive new business growth
- HR business partners are in demand to provide trusted HR contacts for internal clients and bring HR into the business
- Executive assistants with extensive experience are highly sought-after
- Data analysts with excellent organizational skills
- Policy officers are needed to support various initiatives, especially related to domestic violence and the National Disability Insurance System (NDIS)
- Procurement professionals with comprehensive experience in service contracts, especially for commodities. With the active real estate market, real estate and construction lawyers are in high demand
- Residential property managers with experience are needed to manage properties
- Project managers, site managers, and contract administrators are needed for construction projects
- Lead project architects who can work on all phases of a project are highly sought-after
- Facility managers/coordinators are needed to manage planned and responsive maintenance for new and aging buildings
- Civil engineers are needed in the residential development and land development markets
- Planners in the energy sector, especially Primavera P6 specialists with experience in large-scale projects. As more clinical trials are conducted in Australia, clinical research associates are in high demand
- Social workers with expertise in the child and family space, including domestic violence cases. As the population grows, educators are in high demand
- Deputy school principals are needed to support school principals
- Mortgage lenders are in high demand as banks promote existing performers and fill vacant positions
- Insurance brokers who can consult with clients and perform basic tasks correctly
- Customer relationship managers are needed to increase customer loyalty and improve service
- Qualified product salespeople
- Continuous improvement managers are needed as organizations look for ways to become more competitive in the manufacturing sector
- Fleet controllers with marina experience, especially for night shifts
- Project engineers in the oil and gas sector, as construction and modernization projects begin in response to the need for more gas
- Mechanical installers in specific locations, in response to expansions in the resources and mining industries
- Civil operators for a wide range of civil projects
Good to know: Navigating the Australian Job Market: Opportunities, Salaries, and Nuances
Most of these roles are highly specialized and offer salaries at the middle and senior management level. With that being said, there are also many positions available for educators and social workers.
The population growth in large cities leads to the creation of more childcare services and an increase in competition for suitable candidates. Certified and experienced teachers who have classroom experience will also be seeking permanent positions. Cooks in cafeterias will also remain in demand for schools.
Experienced social workers in the field of children and families, including those who work with domestic violence cases, will be in demand in response to the increase in criminal cases and high staff turnover rates, in light of recent amendments to government initiatives to combat domestic violence at state and national levels. In the service industry, experienced consultants, case workers, and coordinators are in high demand.
