Australia's job market is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and the future looks bright for those in healthcare and tech! According to a recent report, these sectors are set to dominate the employment landscape in the coming years. Let's dive into the details.
This forecast comes from the 2025 Jobs and Skills Report, a collaborative effort by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) and Victoria University. They've crunched a lot of numbers to give us a peek at what's ahead.
The report paints a picture of significant growth. Over the next five years, from now until May 2030, the total number of jobs in Australia is expected to increase by 6.5%, which translates to roughly 961,000 new positions. Looking further ahead, the decade to May 2035 promises even more expansion, with a projected increase of 13.3%, or nearly two million new jobs!
Leading the charge is the healthcare and social assistance industry. This sector is predicted to become a major player, accounting for over one-fifth of all jobs by 2035. Its share of total employment is set to jump from 16.1% in 2025 to 17.5% by 2035, the most significant rise of any industry. This means a whopping 541,900 new jobs will be created in this area over the next decade.
Following closely behind is the professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This sector is expected to grow by 18.5%, adding an additional 250,100 workers to its ranks by 2035. This includes fields like engineering, IT, and scientific research – all areas where skilled professionals will be in high demand.
Even though the retail trade sector is projected to see a slight decrease in its share of total employment, it will still remain a major employer in Australia.
Here's a quick look at the top five industries expected to add the most jobs:
| Rank | Industry | Projected Employment Growth Rate | No. of New Jobs Added (approx.) |
|------|---------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| 1 | Healthcare and social assistance | 22.9% | 541,900 |
| 2 | Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10.1% | 250,100 |
| 3 | Construction | 11.9% | 160,900 |
| 4 | Education and training | 12.4% | 157,700 |
| 5 | Retail trade | 6.9% | 93,100 |
The trend points to a surge in demand for highly skilled professionals.
All major occupation groups are projected to see employment increases over the next decade, with the most significant growth among professionals. The demand for this group is forecast to increase by nearly 850,000 positions. Within this category, registered nurses, accountants, and software and application programmers are expected to be the top three occupations by the share of employment in 2035.
This highlights the growing importance of higher education. The JSA projects that more than half of all new jobs created (54.3%) will require a bachelor's degree or higher. This is reinforced by data from the 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS), which shows international students in healthcare-related fields are currently the most successful at securing employment in Australia at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Across the country, every state and territory is predicted to experience job growth. Victoria is expected to lead the way, with a 15.3% rise and nearly 580,000 new jobs by 2035. New South Wales follows closely, projected to add 576,800 new jobs. Queensland and Western Australia are also expected to see robust growth of 13.3% and 13.6%, respectively.
But here's where it gets controversial... While the report clearly indicates a shift towards specialized fields, some might argue that the focus on higher education could potentially create a skills gap in other areas. What are your thoughts? Do you agree that higher education is the key, or do you see other paths to success in the evolving job market? Share your opinions in the comments below!
