With the biggest recovery we’ve seen in modern times, many sectors in the Australian jobs market are booming, with high demand for skilled employees in a number of fields.
It seems like we’ve been talking about “the future of work” for years. Enter a pandemic, with 2020 and 2021 being a time like no other, and the future of work is upon us.
Nick Chapman, CEO and Executive Board Member at Monarch Institute agrees. “We’re seeing a change in the demand from both employers and employees, away from the traditional training and education courses we’ve been used to.”
As we settle into the new normal, it’s important to consider our working future and the relevance of what we do. Almost a third of employees have experienced change in their job requirements since the start of the pandemic.
Training and education need to keep up. Already both organisations and employees are struggling to keep up with changes to how we do business.
Here’s 5 career ideas for 2023 whose skills are in demand across Australia right now.
Digital and Technology
Emerging as one of the biggest shortages in the workforce are positions that rely on digital skills. The National Skills Commission has placed “data analysts” and “data scientists” within the top emerging occupations.
ICT Business and Systems Analysts work with businesses to optimise their IT system functions. They develop system plans and documentation, review and evaluate existing systems,along with designing and modifying them to meet user’s business needs.
“Never has there been a time where businesses have needed to update, adapt and ensure their systems are flexible more than in the last year. Remote workplaces mean we need to connect in different ways” says Nick Chapman, “And that means we need specialists in the field more than ever.”
Digital Marketing is another career choice within the sector that’s experiencing high demand and the sectors growth is here to stay. “We’re seeing a lot of marketing employees upskilling to meet the switch to digital and online marketing.” says Chapman.
Certification as a digital marketing professional gives marketing specialists an edge when it comes to meeting the needs of businesses. Digital Marketing is growing enormously. Unfortunately, there is not enough talent in the market to meet demand. Having the right skill sets puts prospective employees at an advantage.
Human Resources
Many workplace practices have changed rapidly in the last year.
Both leaders and employees need training, upskilling and support to adapt.
Business mindsets in 2023 need to switch from 2021’s motto of ‘survive’ to 2023’s motto of ‘thrive’. Rethinking organisational design and focusing on change management are both top priorities.
But so is employee wellbeing. And that means having staff dedicated to nurturing and connecting teams that are now more than ever spread far and wide.
That’s where the demand for trained human resources staff comes in. Demand exists for on-the-ground HR people, actively implementing the new ways teams need to connect.
Organisations will build and dismantle teams as needed. Growth, adaptability and resilience will be a prerequisite for employees. And it’s HR staff that will guide businesses through these changes.
Financial Services
Financial and insurance services employment growth to November 2025 is expected to be almost 6% according to the National Skills Commission. That growth is largely attributed to improved economic conditions, an increase in regulations and the ageing population driving demand for superannuation and financial advice.
The financial services industry has been through significant changes over the past decade. Extensive regulatory reform, the emergence of new technologies and increased demand for services. So skilled financial services employees have a large role to play.
Nick Chapman believes “The ageing population means an increased demand for professionals in many Financial Services sectors. Workers in the sector need strong customer service and risk management skills to ensure retirees have a stable income stream and the ability to manage their wealth”.
Across all sectors of the Financial Services industry, including mortgage broking, financial planning and accounting and bookkeeping, the need to build foundational financial skills for learners and workers, in areas such as ethical conduct, compliance and culture is necessary. Being able to easily transition between jobs within the industry is also important to meet the changing standards of the industry.
Trades
With construction employment expected to rise by 6.8 percent by November 2025, it’s good news for tradies and those entering into trade fields. Generous Government stimulus, investment in infrastructure, apprentice benefits and a hot property market are all contributing. And it’s not confined to the cities.
Regional areas are experiencing almost as significant property and development growth as the cities. We can thank the pandemic for that too. As remote working encourages a shift to escape the constraints of city living, it’s boom time for tradies, particularly in construction.
Upleveling a trade with Project Management skills is also highly sought. Project Managers need to have various skills beyond their trade to coordinate multiple employees and contractors, as well as ensuring a project runs smoothly.
Healthcare
Never has Australia’s healthcare system been as stretched. With the aging population already placing a huge strain on the system, we’re seeing the added pressure the pandemic has created.
Healthcare and social assistance is Australia’s largest and fastest growing industry. According to the Australian Jobs Report 2019, the sector has grown 21.4% since 2013 and is expected to grow another 14.9% by 2023.
It’s little surprise nurses, as well as aged and disability carers are high on the list. Psychiatrists also feature as society as a whole, deals with the effects of the pandemic and recent natural disasters of drought, bushfires and flood.
Preparing for careers in 2022 and beyond
Training and education is emerging as one of the most imminent needs for the jobs market. Labour market changes have Australia’s businesses and workforce struggling to keep up with skill requirements.
According to a recent RMIT study prepared with Deloitte Access Economics, already 50,600 Australians reported lacking necessary skills or education as their main difficulty in finding work. Plus, more than 20% of Australians surveyed think there’s a possibility they’ll be made redundant.
If those figures don’t scream a need for relevant training and education for careers in 2023, nothing will.
