Best Jobs of the Future: In-Demand Industries in Australia

Choosing a career is exciting, and not a choice you want to regret later. The Australian economy is changing in response to the needs of people in Australia and local businesses. To make an informed choice about your career, it’s worth considering what jobs will be required in the future. The best job in Australia for you is the one you’ll enjoy for years to come.

So, what are the best jobs to get in Australia?

You’re probably looking for a job that both pays your bills now and is where your skills will be required long into the future. To make your career future-proof, you might want to focus on jobs in high demand in Australia.

Often, the most highly skilled jobs are also the highest paying jobs, but this is not always the case. We’ve done the research so you can be confident that your chosen industry offers you a chance at a good career in Australia. These industries include some of the best careers in Australia for international students.

WORKING WITH THE SICK, ELDERLY AND DISABLED

Roles in this industry let you make a positive difference in the lives of your patients or clients. However, they can also be very hard work. Caring jobs like aged or disability support usually don’t require any formal qualifications, but they do need workers who are patient, dedicated and resilient.

If you’re considering a carer role, you’ll be glad to know that strong growth is predicted in this field. The Australian Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will create more demand for people to fill these roles. The NDIS will need to grow its workforce by 31 per cent by 2024 to meet the rising demand, with a focus on support workers and carers.

Nursing is also a field seeing significant demand. By 2030, there could be a shortage of 123,000 nurses Australia-wide. This predicted demand makes nursing a good option for international students looking for long-term career stability in Australia.

EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE

The number of children attending school in Australia is growing, which means there’s increasing demand for school teachers across pre-primary, primary and secondary education. Especially in rural areas of Australia, the demand for teachers is very high, and in New South Wales alone, 11,000 more teachers will be needed by 2030.

Salaries for teachers vary, but on average a teacher in one of these areas could earn around $1,800 a week.

The Australian Government also predicts strong growth in the childcare profession over the next five years. The preschool education workforce is anticipated to grow by over 17 per cent from 2020 to 2025.

Software and applications

The world is becoming increasingly digital. This has already led to significant opportunities for work in the software and applications industry, and it’s an area that’s expected to continue growing. In fact, 16,000 new jobs per year will be created in this industry.

Programmers design, test and improve software and applications. Jobs in this area usually require a bachelor’s degree at a minimum, with some roles requiring a postgraduate degree.

The median salary for programmers is over $100,000 a year, so if you’re after a high-paying job, this could be a good career in Australia for you.

ENGINEERING

The field of engineering covers some of the highest-paying jobs in Australia. A chemical and materials engineer, for instance, can expect to take home an average weekly pay of just over $3,000.

Most engineering professions are predicted to have stable to very high growth potential in the future. Australia has committed to several large infrastructure projects over the coming years, for which engineering services will be required.

Engineering is a very broad field, so if you’re naturally curious about the world around you, you may well find a career in engineering that interests you.

Many engineering jobs do require at minimum a bachelor’s degree, so you’ll need to consider carefully if it’s the right kind of job for you before you commit.

LAW

Demand for solicitors is expected to grow by over 19,000 workers between 2020 and 2025. Solicitors also earn an above-average salary.

Much like engineering and programming, there is a high barrier to entry in this profession. To practise law, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree.

However, to truly excel in a legal role, you should have some level of confidence in public speaking as well. This is because solicitors are likely to have to represent clients in court. So, if you’re a confident speaker and interested in Australia’s legal system, a job as a solicitor could be the best job in Australia for you.

CONSTRUCTION AND SKILLED TRADES

Jobs in the construction and skilled trades industry that are expected to grow in the future include electricians, gardeners, handypersons, carpenters and joiners, and plumbers (who typically earn a very good wage in Australia), just to name a few. These jobs usually require entry-level or medium-level skills rather than a university degree, making them more accessible than roles in highly technical fields.

The construction industry is critical in Australia, not only for larger infrastructure projects, but also to meet Australia’s ongoing need for things like houses and apartment buildings, schools, shopping centres and other construction critical to the community.