Future of Jobs in Australia: Where Will They Be? [Updated 2020]

As you’re interpreting the projections and statistics in this article, it is important to remember that COVID-19 has had, and will continue to have, a substantial impact on Australia’s labour market. While predictions around the economic implications of the virus aren’t yet certain, it is clear there will be some negative employment changes.
Here at TafeCourses.com.au, we’ve compiled the most up to date statistics according to labour projections by the year 2024, however these do not take into account the impact of COVID-19.
What Jobs Will be in Demand in 2024?
According to the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), the three predicted industry areas that are expected to have a massive spike in employment are:
These rapidly expanding industries make up a high proportion of expected job openings between 2017 and 2024, but a report by NCVER details that this is mostly as a result of replacement demand rather than employment growth. This means that these employment opportunities are arising due to a substantial amount of workers leaving their fields for reasons such as retirement.
In 2024, 35% of the working-age population are estimated to be 55 years or older, which is an increase compared to today’s 32%. This suggests that many industry areas that are dominated by relatively older workforces will be susceptible to replacement demand in the upcoming decade; something to keep a close eye on as baby-boomers begin to retire.
Nursing & Healthcare Workers Job Outlook
As nursing professionals fall into the health care and social assistance sector, this means that the National Disability and Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will continue to supplement employment growth. This NDIS boost with the support of government expenditure suggests that there will be an increase of 119,000 of healthcare workers in 2024, making this the economy’s largest sector with 1.8 million people.
Other sectors that will benefit from this scheme, as well as replacement demand are health and welfare support workers, child carers and personal carers and assistants.
If you are interested in pursuing nursing or healthcare as a career, here are the courses to get you started:
Employment by Occupation 2016-2024
Employment in 2016
Employment in 2024
2.5% average year-on-year change
Predicted Job Openings
2017-2024
Weekly Pay for a Registered Nurse vs. National Average
Software and Applications Programming Job Oulook
The majority of these jobs fall within the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Industry. It’s an industry with the strongest growth projection — 2.8% by 2024 — which highlights the ongoing demand for qualified and highly educated workers in Australia.
Software and Applications Programming jobs are predicted to increase by 23.4% by 2024. However, the industry as a whole has the lowest replacement demand since the majority of its workers are relatively young. So, most of the jobs in this field will be newly created to fill growing demand. This would bring the industry total to 166,600, making it a very large field. It’s a true reflection of the digital shift Australia and the world has been experiencing, cementing the need for workers skilled in programming, analysis and evaluation, complex problem solving and critical thinking.
If you’re keen on pursuing a career in this exciting and challenging field, there’s a wide variety of courses that will teach you the necessary skills:
Employment by Occupation
2016-2024
employment in 2016
employment in 2024
*Only accounting for net employment growth
Predicted Job Openings
2017-2024
Teaching Job Outlook
It was found that by 2024, 400,000 of teachers will make up the largest professional occupation, with professional occupation found to maintain the highest number of job openings (121,700 per year). When you decide to study teaching, you are definitely not limited; the education sector is made up of a variety of roles, for example teaching children with special needs, and an equal amount of courses.
Some of these are:
Employment by Occupation 2016-2024
Employment in 2016
Employment in 2024
1.3% average year-on-year change
Predicted Job Openings
2017-2024
Other Rising Employment Areas
Other major employment areas that are foreseen to have a reasonably high proportion of job openings are trades areas. This is also due to replacement demand, which is predicted to have training implications on these specific areas. As older, more experienced workers in these trades sectors begin to retire, it leaves only a few to train and supervise apprentices. Also, as the process of apprenticeship training can take years and the completion rates can be low, it is imperative that these areas are well-recruited for. This needs to be done in order to avoid any worker shortages in upcoming years.
Predicted Increase in Job Openings for Trades Industries (%)
Bricklayers, Carpenters
& Joiners
Automotive Electricians
& Mechanics
Job Openings by Trades Occupation 2017-24: most likely scenario
Building & Engineering Technicians
Bricklayers, Carpenters & Joiners
Auto. Electricians & Mechanics
Electricians
Plumbers
Floor Finishers & Painting Trades
Courses found:
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (SE Melb Only) CPC50220
This course (CPC50220) is designed to meet the needs of people working in the building industry whose intention is to become a Registered Building Practitioner, satisfying the education requirements of the VBA. It is specifically designed for learners...


Certificate IV in Building and Construction (SE Melb Only) CPC40120
The Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120) is designed to meet the needs of people working in the building industry and who aim to be builders and managers of small to medium-sized building projects. This nationally recognised qualifica...


Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (Melbourne Only) CHC50121
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is a highly sought-after qualification within the early childhood education sector. Upon completion, graduates will have the skills and knowledge to become a lead educator in the delivery of Early Child...


Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315
Would you like to follow a career path that will equip you with specialised skills to lead and counsel people towards a brighter future? If a career providing counselling to those impaired by mental health interests you, the Diploma of Mental Health qu...


Diploma of Nursing (SA Only) HLT54115
Build a career that’s meaningful, fills you with a sense of purpose, and provides diverse job opportunities, with this Diploma of Nursing course. Offered via a blend of on-campus and online learning the HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing is the ideal starting...



