What is the Outlook for Australian Careers in 2020?
As 2019 winds down and another new year is upon us, people’s thoughts turn to fresh starts, and that includes a new job or even a new career. But what does 2020 hold for job seekers? Where the growth areas? What industries are declining? Where is the best place to be practising your particular trade?
What Are the Details?
The Department of Employment has released its yearly forecasts, and their findings show that over the five years to May 2023, the Department of Jobs and Small Business projects employment will increase in 17 of the 19 broad industries, with declines in employment projected for Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (1400) and Wholesale Trade (9700). Total employment is projected to increase by 886,100 (7.1 per cent) over this period. Almost two-thirds of this growth is projected to come from the four largest contributing industries:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (250,300 new jobs)
- Construction (118,800)
- Education and Training (113,000)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (106,600)
However, according to a Yahoo! Finance report, Job ads are down 7.8 per cent year on year, meaning fewer employers are keen to make hires, according to the latest Seek employment data.
The data found that while business leaders’ hiring intentions remained stable in this last quarter, the expectations for hires in 2020 had softened.
Recruitment firm Hays’ Managing Director Nick Deligiannis told Yahoo! Finance the job market would, in fact, be active in 2020, particularly in Australia’s professional and financial services, infrastructure, mining and healthcare industries.
“The key trends we’re seeing are for skilled professionals who, regardless of role or industry, possess interpersonal and creative skills,” Deligiannis said.
Top Employing Industries
For graduates, it’s useful to know the most top employing occupations as you prepare to enter the workplace.
Jobs By Industry
Health Care and Social Assistance
Currently employing 1.6m of which 79% are female
Top occupations: Registered Nurses, Aged and Disabled Carers, Child Carers
Retail Trade
Currently employing 1.3m of which 32% are aged 15 to 24 years
Top occupations: General Sales Assistants, Retail Managers, Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers
Construction
Currently employing 1.2m of which 51% are Certificate III or higher VET qualified
Top occupations: Carpenters and Joiners, Electricians, Construction Managers
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Currently employing 1m of which 77% are full time
Top occupations: Accountants, Software and Applications Programmers. Solicitors
Education and Training
Currently employing 1m of which 87% hold post-school qualifications
Top occupations: Primary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Education Aides
For those currently in careers and considering a move, this is the state of the market by occupation:
Jobs By Occupation
Managers
Currently employing 1.6m of whom one in four are aged 55 years or older
Top occupations: Retail Managers; Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers; Construction Managers
Professionals
Currently employing 3m of whom more than three quarters hold a bachelor degree or higher qualification
Top occupations: Registered Nurses, Accountants, Primary School Teachers
Technicians and Trades Workers
Currently employing 1.8m of whom 84% are employed full-time
Top occupations: Electricians, Carpenters and Joiners, Motor Mechanics
Community and Personal Service Workers
Currently employing 1.3m of whom 40% are employed in Health Care and Social Assistance
Top occupations: Aged and Disabled Carers, Child Carers
Clerical and Administrative Workers
Currently employing 1.8m
Top occupations: General Clerks, Receptionists, Office Managers
Sales Workers
Currently employing 1.1m of whom 40% are aged 15 to 24 years
Top occupations: General Sales Assistants, Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers, Real Estate Sales Agents
Machinery Operators and Drivers
Currently employing 0.8m of whom 82% are employed full-time
Top occupations: Truck Drivers, Storepersons, Forklift Drivers
Labourers
Currently employing 1.2m of whom 61% do not hold post-school qualifications
Top occupations: Commercial Cleaners, Kitchen hands, Building and Plumbing Labourers
Summary
In the next part of this blog post, we’re looking at other trends such as what the most methods employers use to recruit staff
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