Top 30 Most In-Demand Jobs in Australia
Compared to other developed nations, Australia managed to bypass much of the financial chaos during COVID-19 owing to its strict border control and solid pre-pandemic economic figures. In 2020, the unemployment rate stood at 6.46%; but the resilient workforce (consisting of 13+ million people across six states) in 2022 brought that number down to 3.4% –– a remarkable decrease. And while figures throughout the world’s largest country continue to trend in the right direction, cost of living expenses are increasing, placing greater emphasis on the importance of sourcing a well-paying job.
As job seekers in Australia continue to source new work into 2023 and beyond, they need to stand out from the rest. Brush up on the latest, relevant knowledge of the current work climate: find out which type of jobs (and the skills necessary to perform them) are in high demand in Australia before you start your search.
Here’s our list of the most in-demand skills and the most in-demand jobs in Australia in 2024.
What Skills Are In High Demand in Australia?
To qualify for one of the most in-demand jobs in Australia in 2024, job seekers need to assess their skills and work on developing those that are most in-demand right now. The following are 6 skills that will help Australians to increase their hireability and chances of getting hired.
- Teaching: There’s a strong need for teachers, especially secondary education teachers, in Australia right now. If you have training and experience as a teacher, you’ll likely have no trouble finding a job here. Teachers who are knowledgeable in a specific subject, such as math or language, are in particularly high demand right now. If you have these kinds of skills on your resume, you’ll have an advantage over other candidates applying for the same positions.
- Customer Service: Good customer service skills are always in high demand, but they’re particularly valuable right now. From retail establishments to IT firms, all kinds of companies are looking for people who are patient and good at communicating with others. If you can check these boxes, there’s a good chance you’ll have plenty of jobs available to you, especially if you also have previous customer service experience.
- Project Management: Good project managers are needed across all industries in Australia to help businesses run smoothly and ensure projects are completed on time and within budget. Project managers must possess industry-specific knowledge, but they must also possess a variety of soft skills. They need to be good communicators, well-organized, and good at motivating others. If you have these skills, you’ll have a great chance of landing one of many project manager jobs that are currently available.
- Nursing: There’s always a strong demand for healthcare-related skills, including nursing skills. In Australia, there’s a high demand for qualified and experienced nurses who know how to support their patients and provide them with the care they need. If you’ve received training as a nurse, you likely will not run into any problems when it comes to searching for a job in Australia, especially in the wake of COVID-19.
- Mental Health Support: Mental healthcare is just as important as physical healthcare. If you’re a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, your skills are desperately needed in Australia right now, especially as so many people are working to recover from the psychological toll that COVID-19 took on them. Those who have skills in counseling, crisis management, and other types of mental health support will likely find many jobs open to them.
- Sales: Lots of businesses in Australia are looking for talented, experienced, and hard-working sales associates. If you’re a great communicator and someone who has no problem highlighting the great points of a product or service to sell it to others, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to use and expand your skill set while job searching here.
What Are The Most In-Demand Jobs in Australia?
JOB TITLE | AVERAGE SALARY (AUD) |
Civil Engineer | |
Plumber | |
IT Security Specialist | |
Logistics and Supply Chain Manager | |
Welder | |
Registered Nurse | |
Childcare Worker | |
Project Manager | |
Dentist | |
Hospitality Manager | |
Construction Manager | |
HVAC Mechanic | |
Chef | |
Human Resource Manager | |
Aged and Disability Support Worker | |
Psychologist | |
Administrative Assistant | |
Primary School Teacher | |
Physiotherapist | |
Electrical Engineer | |
Social Worker | |
University Lecturer | |
Delivery Driver | |
Automotive Mechanic | |
Accountant | |
Systems Analyst | |
Bricklayer/Stonemason | |
Solicitor | |
Software Developer | |
Sales Associate |
Now, let’s dive into the most in-demand jobs in Australia in 2024. Here is a list of 20 great options for job seekers to consider, complete with salary ranges, companies that are currently hiring, and information about career prospects.
Top companies hiring: Randstad Australia, Arcadis, Stantec, Mott MacDonald
Salary range: AUD $58,000 to $102,000 per year
Career prospects: These highly in-demand positions require dedicated and skilled candidates to design, plan, develop and manage construction projects throughout Australia –– whether it’s the repair of roads, buildings, and railways, or the maintenance of canals, bridges, and coastal systems. There are also plenty of junior civil engineering jobs available for recent graduates.
Top companies hiring: O’Brien Electrical & Plumbing, Level Group Australia, First Quantum
Salary range: AUD $60,000 to $89,000 per year
Career prospects: Throughout much of the modernized world, and especially in Australia, skilled plumbers are in very high demand due to the varied expertise of their trade. With the necessary training in place, licensed plumbers can find plenty of companies looking to hire them.
Top companies hiring: Trustwave, Leidos, Hudson, Google, Boeing, University of Queensland
Salary range: AUD $98,000 to $160,000 per year
Career prospects: Many of the most in-demand jobs in Australia fall within the Information Technology industry. As more audiences continue to move their personal and business lives online, the need for highly efficient IT Security Specialists (also known as Cyber Security Analysts) will grow.
Top companies hiring: Abbott Laboratories, Nobreza Consulting, Sharp & Carter, Philips
Salary range: AUD $62,000 to $150,000 per year
Career prospects: Supply chain is a delicate industry made up of companies that require skilled candidates to oversee all elements of movement––from distribution to storage––of their materials and products. With the ongoing demand for fast and affordable shipping throughout the country and the world, especially now that COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted globally, there’s also a growing demand for skilled supply and distribution managers who can oversee these processes.
Top companies hiring: Manpower Australia, Randstad, Duratec
Salary range: AUD $55,000 to $72,000 per year
Career prospects: Firms throughout Australia are consistently searching for highly qualified and skilled people in the welding trade. Welders review blueprints and assemble or repair metal components during construction projects or when performing on-site maintenance work. This highly in-demand work is challenging, but welders are typically very well-paid.
Top companies hiring: North Shore Nurses, Pop-Up Health, Healthcare Australia, First Choice Care
Salary range: AUD $88,000 to $129,000 per year
Career prospects: Due to Australia’s robust healthcare industry, nursing jobs throughout the continent are in high demand –– especially as many regions are still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-term care that millions of residents will require in 2023 and beyond make nursing jobs vital to Australia’s future.
Top companies hiring: Randstad Australia, Fitzroy North (Victoria), KU Children’s Services
Salary range: AUD $64,000 to $89,000 per year
Career prospects: With more Australians heading back to work outside of the home in 2023, there will be an even greater need for childcare workers who can care for other people’s kids while they’re in the office on the job site all day.
Top companies hiring: Randstad Australia, Accenture, General Electric, Arcadis
Salary range: AUD $78,000 to $170,000 per year
Career prospects: An effective Project Manager plans and allocates resources for a company, as well as prepares budgets, monitoring project statuses, and ensures that stakeholders are kept well-informed throughout a project’s life cycle. A take-charge candidate who can accomplish all of the above will always be in high demand throughout the more popular areas of Australia.
Top companies hiring: Pacific Smiles Group, Choice Dental, Starling Services (Queensland)
Salary range: AUD $74,000 to $200,000 per year
Career prospects: A career in dentistry is a great choice for those who want to work in healthcare in Australia. There will always be a need for people to get their teeth checked out and cared for by professionals, so prospects for dentists look very good.
Top companies hiring: IKEA, Frontline Hospitality, Stamford Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Darwin
Salary range: AUD $53,000 to $69,000 per year
Career prospects: Hotels and restaurants in Australia thrive on tourism and the need for qualified Hospitality Managers, who run the day-to-day operations of such businesses, is always in demand.
Top companies hiring: Holliez Group, SHAPE Australia, Frasers Property, McDonald’s Corporation
Salary range: AUD $67,000 to $180,000 per year
Career prospects: Of all the jobs in Australia in high demand right now, construction management is still one of the most lucrative options to consider. If you have a construction management background and consider yourself to be a great project manager, there’s a good chance you can land one of the many positions that are available countrywide.
Top companies hiring: BGIS Global, Workforce Australia, Energy Resource Group
Salary range: AUD $100,000 to $160,000 per year
Career prospects: A highly demanding (and in-demand) trades job, HVAC mechanics and technicians install, repair, and maintain heating, cooling, and ventilation systems for businesses and residences. Many junior-level apprentices work on-call 24 hours each day, so if you’ve got the patience –– and the skills and training required –– you should be able to find one of many available positions.
Top companies hiring: IHG Hotels & Resorts, Aveo Group, Matthews Hospitality Group
Salary range: AUD $59,000 to $84,000 per year
Career prospects: Food is a universal love. But in Australia, it’s celebrated by people far and wide. Line cooks, pastry chefs, even entrepreneurial food truck operators –– the demand for talented crafters of cuisine will continue to grow well beyond 2024.
Top companies hiring: Polestar, Hays, Hudson Australia, Waverly Christian College, Dover Corporation
Salary range: AUD $72,000 to $170,000 per year
Career prospects: Human Resource Managers play a key role in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding process. They also provide ongoing training and work hard to ensure employees are supported in their jobs. There’s a growing need for skilled and experienced human resource managers throughout Australia, across a variety of companies, so prospects for this career are quite promising.
Top companies hiring: Zenitas, Trusted Home Disability Care, Care Services Australia
Salary range: AUD $60,000 to $96,000 per year
Career prospects: The aging and disabled populations in Australia require extensive care and support, which is why there is high demand for trained healthcare practitioners, like nurses, nursing assistants, caregivers, and support workers.
Top companies hiring: VR Clinic, Ramsay Health Care, University of Sydney, Queensland Health
Salary range: AUD $75,000 to $120,000 per year
Career prospects: Like anywhere in the world, Australia has faced significant stress on its collective healthcare system in the last 3 years –– so, it’s no wonder that support professions specializing in mental health have been consistently on the rise. Psychologists are needed now more than ever, and career prospects look good for 2023 and beyond. After all, people are always going to want and need quality mental health support.
Top companies hiring: Page Personnel, James Cook University, InvoCare, ACT Government
Salary range: AUD $53,000 to $70,000 per year
Career prospects: Countless industries throughout Australia know of the benefits of having efficient Administrative Assistants on-hand. Jobseekers who are highly organized and detail-oriented, and who thrive in fast-paced, consumer-facing roles can easily find a position throughout the continent.
Top companies hiring: Department of Education (Australia), Trinity Anglican School, Crimson Education
Salary range: AUD $55,000 to $110,000 per year
Career prospects: Due to the many obstacles faced by teachers in Australia, especially those who had to work remotely through the COVID-19 pandemic in many of the smaller towns and cities, the need for additional skilled and experienced educators –– especially at the junior and primary school level –– remains high throughout the continent.
Top companies hiring: GRIT Physio (Melbourne), Queensland Health, St. Vincent’s Health Australia
Salary range: AUD $65,000 to $96,000 per year
Career prospects: Many Australians struggle with injuries or age-related pain management issues –– especially since long-COVID has weakened immune systems and placed a strain on the rehabilitation industry. This is where qualified Physiotherapists come in. These in-demand roles are essential and will continue to be required as the population grows.
Top companies hiring: Hatch, WSP Australia, Kinexus, Stantec
Salary range: AUD $65,000 to $130,000 per year
Career prospects: Electrical skills are in high demand right now throughout Australia, and many companies are looking to bring on talented electrical engineers. Consider brushing up on your technical knowledge if this type of job interests you.
Top companies hiring: Alliance Care, Southern Cross Care, MedHealth
Salary range: AUD $60,000 to $125,000 per year
Career prospects: Clinical social workers help individuals and families attain physical, mental, and spiritual well-being while providing the tools required for all parties to cope with their stressors and triggers. Social work is not a glamorous job (issues addressed include domestic violence, poverty, oppression, and discrimination), but these positions play a key role in helping teach empathy and understanding, two assets that are vital for 2024 and beyond.
Top companies hiring: University of New South Wales, Australian Catholic University, Griffith University
Salary range: AUD $81,000 to $170,000 per year
Career prospects: Becoming a university-level lecturer in Australia, like anywhere, requires extensive training and education. But once you’ve acquired the skills necessary for this important role, there are plenty of in-demand positions available throughout the continent.
Top companies hiring: Uber Eats, Pizza Hut, Amazon Flex, Door Dash, Coles Supermarkets, Australia Post
Salary range: AUD $52,000 to $89,000 per year
Career prospects: The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated our increasing reliance upon delivery drivers to transport our packages, food, and other services. As we’ve adapted to this new way of life, people are choosing not to order less, so the need for more delivery drivers is expected to increase even more in the future, making job prospects very promising for those who want to break into the industry.
Top companies hiring: Hitachi Machinery, Australian Auto Network, Brady’s Truck & Automotive
Salary range: AUD $55,000 to $74,000 per year
Career prospects: Auto mechanics are responsible for the maintenance and efficiency of all the cars, trucks, and transportation vehicles on Australia’s roads –– and with a population of 25+ million, Australia is always in need of trained servicepeople to use their mechanical skills to keep everything running smoothly.
Top companies hiring: HelloFresh, AXA Group, Morgan McKinley, Hines,
Salary range: AUD $42,000 to $140,000 per year
Career prospects: Businesses, large and small, can benefit greatly from having an experienced accountant on staff. Independently, accountants also work with individuals to help them handle their finances. Because there’s so much versatility in what accountants can do, there are tons of job openings in Australia, many with a lot of room for growth.
Top companies hiring: Accenture, Datacom, Thermo Fisher, Rocky Bay Limited
Salary range: AUD $56,000 to $100,000 per year
Career prospects: An effective Systems Analyst collects and stores information on sales numbers, market research, logistics, and other online behaviors. Qualified candidates provide technical expertise and organizational skills to ensure the quality and accuracy of that data before presenting it to help people and businesses make more informed work decisions.
Top companies hiring: Keystone Builders, Harrison Barratt Group, Masonry ACT
Salary range: AUD $48,000 to $62,000 per year
Career prospects: Just another highly valued and in-demand trades job, bricklayers and stonemasons are needed to lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, and similar materials in order to erect or repair walls, building foundations, chimneys, fireplaces, and other structures.
Top companies hiring: Tenet Legal, Wickham Lawyers, State Government of Perth
Salary range: AUD $94,000 to $190,000 per year
Career prospects: Solicitors in Australia provide valuable and necessary services to people in need. Whatever the chosen area of legal study –– criminal representation, reading wills, buying/selling a property, or putting together contracts –– solicitor jobs are very in-demand.
Top companies hiring: Hays Australia, Randstad, Robert Walters, Citadel, Thoughtworks
Salary range: AUD $57,000 to $132,000 per year
Career prospects: There are tons of openings for skilled software developers throughout Australia. If you have a robust software development portfolio and development experience under your belt, you’ll have your pick of jobs working for all kinds of companies, from those in the manufacturing field to healthcare providers.
Top companies hiring: Dyson, Foodland, JD Sports, Gift Box, Peter Warren Automotive
Salary range: AUD $42,000 to $72,000 per year
Career prospects: As one of the world’s leading destinations for tourists, not to mention the millions of residents, there are countless businesses in Australia looking to hire friendly and personable salespeople at the retail level. Store Clerks (or Sales Assistants) are in high demand throughout the continent’s largest cities including, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and just about everywhere in between.
Apply for the Most In-Demand Jobs in Australia Today
There you have it! The most in-demand skills and jobs in Australia for 2024. As the country’s workforce continues to evolve, certain job skills will become more sought-after, and filling certain positions will become more important. Be sure to stand out from all other candidates –– know where the demand is highest in Australia while brushing up on the most popular job skills. And you’re sure to succeed.
