Jobs by Occupation
Jobs by Occupation Jon Wundersitz Mon, 11/23/2020 - 13:41Managers
Managers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:43
Annual Employment Growth (%)
A large number of Australians are employed as Managers and they work in many different types of organisations across all industries.
Are qualifications or experience needed?
This is a relatively skilled group, as Managers generally hold senior positions, taking responsibility for staff and operations. This means qualifications are usually needed, however, sometimes significant on-the-job experience is sufficient.
- The majority of Managers hold post-school qualifications, although this is less common for Farmers and Farm Managers and Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers.
- The need for workplace experience is reflected in the age profile of the workforce. Half of all Managers are aged 45 years or older. Just 4% are aged 15 to 24 years, although there are more opportunities for young people in Hospitality, Retail and Service Manager roles (accounting for 8% of this group).
Managers are typically skilled in communication and building relationships, planning, budgeting and problem solving.
Top Employing Occupations
Occupation |
---|
Retail Managers |
Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers |
Construction Managers |
Livestock Farmers |
Human Resource Managers |
Other Specialist Managers |
Finance Managers |
ICT Managers |
Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers |
Production Managers |
Cafe and Restaurant Managers |
Supply, Distribution and Procurement Managers |
Crop Farmers |
General Managers |
Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers |
Chief Executives and Managing Directors |
Conference and Event Organisers |
Policy and Planning Managers |
Call or Contact Centre and Customer Service Managers |
Health and Welfare Services Managers |
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In which industries do Managers work?
Managers work in every industry, but the largest shares are in Retail Trade and Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (both 12%). Other major employing industries include Accommodation and Food Services (9%) and Manufacturing (9%).
Some Manager occupations are concentrated in specific industries. For example, Café and Restaurant Managers are mainly employed in Accommodation and Food Services. For other Manager occupations, such as General Managers and Human Resource Managers, employment is spread across all industries.
Are there job opportunities?
When looking for Manager vacancies, remember they are not always advertised online. Some positions are filled by the promotion of existing workers, while others are advertised in less formal ways such as word of mouth or head hunting. It is important for job seekers who are looking for Manager positions to remember this and use professional networks to help bolster their recruitment chances.
Will there be future opportunities?
Managers often perform a range of non-routine, cognitive duties (such as problem solving) so this occupation group is less susceptible to automation.
Employment by occupation subgroup, Managers
Employment Profile | Workforce Educational Profile | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part-time | Female | Aged 15 to 24 years | Aged 55 years or older | Bachelor degree or higher | Cert III or higher VET qual | No post-school qual | |
Occupation subgroup | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Chief Executives, General Managers and Legislators | 11 | 27 | 0 | 30 | 54 | 27 | 12 |
Farmers and Farm Managers | 20 | 29 | 4 | 54 | 19 | 29 | 46 |
Specialist Managers | 10 | 36 | 2 | 21 | 50 | 28 | 19 |
Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers | 17 | 48 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 35 | 35 |
All Managers | 14 | 38 | 4 | 25 | 38 | 30 | 27 |
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data).
Professionals
Professionals Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:46
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Professionals is the largest employing occupation group in Australia (accounting for around one in four workers).
There are clear differences in the representation of men and women across occupations in the Professionals group. Around 74% of Health Professionals and 72% of Education Professionals are female, but 79% of ICT Professionals are male. The extent of part-time employment also varies, being relatively rare for ICT Professionals but more common for Health Professionals, Arts and Media Professionals, and Education Professionals.
In which industries do Professionals work?
Around two thirds of Professionals are employed in just three industries.
- Health Care and Social Assistance (24% of Professional employment).
- Education and Training (21%).
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (21%).
Are qualifications needed?
Most Professional jobs require a bachelor degree or higher qualification (75% of Professionals have this level of qualification), with university study the main pathway for employment. Reflecting the time it takes to gain relevant qualifications, a relatively small proportion of Professionals is aged 15 to 24 years.
In addition to qualifications, skills that are often required to be a Professional include communication, planning, project management, problem solving, writing and research.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
Registered Nurses |
Accountants |
Primary School Teachers |
Software and Applications Programmers |
Secondary School Teachers |
Advertising and Marketing Professionals |
Solicitors |
Management and Organisation Analysts |
University Lecturers and Tutors |
Civil Engineering Professionals |
General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers |
Human Resource Professionals |
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators |
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers |
Financial Investment Advisers and Managers |
Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists |
Computer Network Professionals |
Private Tutors and Teachers |
Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers |
Vocational Education Teachers |
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Are there job opportunities?
There will continue to be job opportunities for Professionals. Along with the rising demand for these workers, however, the supply of university educated Australians is also increasing, with higher education enrolments increasing significantly over the past decade. With more university graduates, and more people searching for work, there are now large numbers of qualified applicants competing for some Professional occupations.
With increased competition, job seekers are encouraged to be as flexible as possible with their availability and highlight their transferable skills and experience. Employers will be looking for reliable and flexible workers, with good communication skills who can learn new tasks quickly and adapt to new working environments. If you can, give examples from your work history which highlight these skills and make you stand out from the crowd.
Will there be future opportunities?
Professionals perform analytical, conceptual and creative tasks which are less susceptible to technological automation.
Employment by occupation subgroup, Professionals
Employment Profile | Workforce Educational Profile | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Occupation subgroup | Part-time | Female | Aged 15 to 24 years | Aged 55 years or older | Bachelor degree or higher | Cert III or higher VET qual | No post-school qual |
Region | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Arts and Media Professionals | 37 | 52 | 11 | 18 | 52 | 21 | 23 |
Business, Human Resource and Marketing Professionals | 19 | 51 | 6 | 16 | 69 | 16 | 12 |
Design, Engineering, Science and Transport Professionals | 16 | 31 | 8 | 14 | 74 | 15 | 8 |
Education Professionals | 34 | 72 | 8 | 20 | 84 | 10 | 4 |
Health Professionals | 38 | 74 | 6 | 20 | 80 | 14 | 3 |
ICT Professionals | 9 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 13 | 11 |
Legal, Social and Welfare Professionals | 29 | 67 | 4 | 22 | 78 | 16 | 5 |
All Professionals | 26 | 55 | 7 | 17 | 75 | 14 | 8 |
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data).
Technicians and Trades Workers
Technicians and Trades Workers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:48
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Technicians and Trades Workers undertake a variety of skilled manual tasks. They apply technical, trade or industry specific knowledge in construction, manufacturing, scientific, engineering and other activities.
Regional employment is fairly common with more than a third of workers employed across regional Australia. A relatively large proportion of this group are self-employed (25%), particularly Construction Trades Workers (47%), and full-time work is common.
Technicians and Trades Workers has the second lowest percentage of female workers of any occupation group (16%). This is especially apparent for Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, Construction Trades Workers, and Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers. That said, some occupations have large shares of female workers, such as Veterinary Nurses (97%) and Hairdressers (85%).
What qualifications and skills are needed?
Almost 60% of Technicians and Trades Workers hold a certificate III or higher vocational qualification, with apprenticeships and traineeships providing a key training pathway for many occupations in this group.
Common skills that are needed include general employability skills (such as communication, planning and problem solving) that are valued across most occupations.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
Electricians |
Metal Fitters and Machinists |
Carpenters and Joiners |
Plumbers |
Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers |
Motor Mechanics |
Chefs |
Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians |
Gardeners |
ICT Support Technicians |
Hairdressers |
Painting Trades Workers |
Cooks |
Medical Technicians |
Plasterers |
Other Building and Engineering Technicians |
Electronics Trades Workers |
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics |
Bakers and Pastrycooks |
Telecommunications Trades Workers |
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In which industries are Technicians and Trades Workers employed?
Construction accounts for the largest share of these workers (33%), followed by Manufacturing (14%) and Other Services (which includes automotive repair and maintenance) (13%).
Are there job opportunities?
With federal and state governments introducing or bringing forward infrastructure projects, and the new HomeBuilder program supporting jobs in the residential construction sector, these will help the Construction industry (and therefore Technicians and Trades Workers) remain an important source of jobs for Australians now and into the future.
Many vacancies for Technicians and Trades Workers can be advertised informally. When seeking work, it pays to be proactive by approaching employers directly (e.g. by email or by phone), checking social media, including jobs groups on social media platforms and reaching out through your network of family and friends.
Will there be future opportunities?
The tasks performed in this group are diverse. Some are routine, manual tasks which may be at risk of automation, although many occupations involve non-routine or unpredictable duties which are more difficult to automate.
Employment by occupation subgroup, Technicians and Trades Workers
Employment Profile | Workforce Educational Profile | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Occupation subgroup | Part-time | Female | Aged 15 to 24 years | Aged 55 years or older | Bachelor degree or higher | Cert III or higher VET qual | No post-school qual |
Region | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians | 15 | 26 | 6 | 18 | 31 | 45 | 18 |
Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers | 6 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 67 | 22 |
Construction Trades Workers | 12 | 1 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 61 | 33 |
Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers | 8 | 2 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 64 | 24 |
Food Trades Workers | 29 | 32 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 49 | 34 |
Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers | 34 | 36 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 39 | 42 |
Other Technicians and Trades Workers | 31 | 45 | 13 | 18 | 10 | 58 | 27 |
All Technicians and Trades Workers | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 57 | 27 |
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, A snapshot in time: The Australian labour market and COVID-19; National Skills Commission, Employers' Recruitment Insights.
Community and Personal Service Workers
Community and Personal Service Workers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:52
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Community and Personal Service Workers provide a wide range of services, including in the areas of aged and disability care, health and social welfare, child care, hospitality, policing, tourism and sports. Employment is largely concentrated in two industries, with 41% employed in Health Care and Social Assistance and 18% in Accommodation and Food Services.
Workers are mainly female (70%) and part-time employment is common (55%), although there are differences by subgroup. For example, Protective Service Workers (which includes Police, Fire and Emergency Workers and Security Officers and Guards) is largely a male workforce (76%) and has a relatively low level of part-time employment (15%).
Are qualifications needed?
Entry pathways are varied, reflecting the diverse range of services provided by workers in this group. Around 41% of workers have a certificate III or higher vocational qualification, 32% do not hold a post-school qualification and 21% have a bachelor degree or higher.
Health and Welfare Support Workers (which includes Ambulance Officers and Paramedics and Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists) is the most highly educated subgroup, with 88% holding post-school qualifications.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
Aged and Disabled Carers |
Child Carers |
Education Aides |
Waiters |
Bar Attendants and Baristas |
Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers |
Police |
Security Officers and Guards |
Welfare Support Workers |
Cafe Workers |
Beauty Therapists |
Prison Officers |
Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials |
Fitness Instructors |
Dental Assistants |
Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses |
Massage Therapists |
Ambulance Officers and Paramedics |
Tourism and Travel Advisers |
Fire and Emergency Workers |
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Are there job opportunities?
Some occupations in this group provide good entry level employment opportunities. For example, young workers (aged 15 to 24 years) account for 55% of Hospitality Workers and post-school study is often not needed for these jobs. For jobs within the health care sector, check online recruitment websites as they are regularly used by employers. It is important that you also remember to check the websites of big employers, as many will only advertise jobs on their own websites.
Will there be future opportunities?
Jobs in this group typically require skills that are less likely to be automated with technology (such as interpersonal and communication skills). A significant share of the workers in this occupation group are employed in Health Care and Social Assistance and future demand is expected to be driven by population growth, an ageing population and the continued expansion of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Employment by occupation subgroup, Community and Personal Service Workers
Employment Profile | Workforce Educational Profile | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Occupation subgroup | Part-time | Female | Aged 15 to 24 years | Aged 55 years or older | Bachelor degree or higher | Cert III or higher VET qual | No post-school qual |
Region | % | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Health and Welfare Support Workers | 42 | 72 | 8 | 23 | 30 | 55 | 12 |
Carers and Aides | 61 | 84 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 52 | 23 |
Hospitality Workers | 73 | 70 | 55 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 58 |
Protective Service Workers | 15 | 24 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 44 | 26 |
Sports and Personal Service Workers | 57 | 66 | 23 | 14 | 20 | 38 | 35 |
All Community and Personal Service Workers1 | 55 | 70 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 41 | 32 |
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, Survey of Employers' Recruitment Experiences; Victorian Council of Social Services; Supporting Australia’s future community services workforce.
Clerical and Administrative Workers
Clerical and Administrative Workers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:53
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Clerical and Administrative Workers provide support to businesses by organising, storing, manipulating and retrieving information. Employment is spread widely across industries but most jobs are likely to be office-based.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
General Clerks |
Receptionists |
Accounting Clerks |
Contract, Program and Project Administrators |
Office Managers |
Bookkeepers |
Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks |
Information Officers |
Keyboard Operators |
Bank Workers |
Personal Assistants |
Couriers and Postal Deliverers |
Payroll Clerks |
Inspectors and Regulatory Officers |
Transport and Despatch Clerks |
Insurance, Money Market and Statistical Clerks |
Call or Contact Centre Workers |
Secretaries |
Credit and Loans Officers |
Practice Managers |
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There are opportunities in this group for workers who do not hold post-school qualifications, with more than a third of this group not having completed further study. Around one in five Inquiry Clerks and Receptionists are aged 15 to 24 years old, indicating this occupation is suited for job seekers looking for entry level positions.
This workforce is mainly female, with women accounting for 73% of these workers. Within this group, though, there is some variation, with women making up 95% of Personal Assistants and Secretaries but only 33% of Clerical and Office Support Workers.
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, Employers' Recruitment Insights.
Sales Workers
Sales Workers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:56
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Sales Workers sell goods, services and property, and provide sales support. A large share of these workers are employed in Retail Trade (60%).
Few jobs in this group require post-school qualifications and the workforce is relatively young (38% are aged 15 to 24 years).
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
General Sales Assistants |
Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers |
Real Estate Sales Agents |
Sales Representatives |
Retail Supervisors |
Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons |
Pharmacy Sales Assistants |
Insurance Agents |
Service Station Attendants |
Other Sales Assistants and Salespersons |
ICT Sales Assistants |
Ticket Salespersons |
Telemarketers |
Models and Sales Demonstrators |
Auctioneers, and Stock and Station Agents |
Retail and Wool Buyers |
Street Vendors and Related Salespersons |
Visual Merchandisers |
Other Sales Support Workers |
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These are often people’s first jobs and seven day a week trading hours for many retail stores creates part-time employment opportunities for students (57% of jobs are part-time).
Jobs are often advertised through informal methods, while some vacancies are filled through applicants approaching employers for work. Research by the NSC indicates that around 33% of employers advertise by word of mouth, 14% use social media and 12% are approached directly by a job seeker.
Self-employment is relatively rare, with around 9% of workers self-employed.
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, Employers' Recruitment Insights.
Machinery Operators and Drivers
Machinery Operators and Drivers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 14:58
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Machinery Operators and Drivers operate machines and vehicles and are mainly employed in Transport, Postal and Warehousing, Manufacturing and Construction. More than one third of workers in this group are employed in regional Australia.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
Truck Drivers |
Storepersons |
Delivery Drivers |
Forklift Drivers |
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers |
Automobile Drivers |
Earthmoving Plant Operators |
Bus and Coach Drivers |
Train and Tram Drivers |
Other Machine Operators |
Engineering Production Workers |
Other Stationary Plant Operators |
Crane, Hoist and Lift Operators |
Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators |
Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators |
Sewing Machinists |
Plastics and Rubber Production Machine Operators |
Other Mobile Plant Operators |
Industrial Spraypainters |
Clay, Concrete, Glass and Stone Processing Machine Operators |
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Post-school qualifications are often not essential to gain employment in this group, but tickets or licences are mandatory for many positions. Employers value employability skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, creativity and initiative.
This occupation group is mostly male (89% of the workforce) and the age profile is relatively old (more than one in four workers is aged 55 years or older).
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, Employers' Recruitment Insights.
Labourers
Labourers Jon Wundersitz Wed, 11/04/2020 - 15:04
Annual Employment Growth (%)
Labourers perform a variety of routine and repetitive physical tasks. Some Labourer jobs require physical fitness (like Building and Plumbing Labourers) but not all involve heavy work (for example, Fast Food Cooks).
Jobs in this group are often advertised informally, with many being filled by applicants approaching the employer directly.
Top employing occupations
Occupation |
---|
Commercial Cleaners |
Kitchenhands |
Building and Plumbing Labourers |
Shelf Fillers |
Packers |
Other Miscellaneous Labourers |
Fast Food Cooks |
Handypersons |
Food and Drink Factory Workers |
Livestock Farm Workers |
Concreters |
Crop Farm Workers |
Domestic Cleaners |
Product Assemblers |
Insulation and Home Improvement Installers |
Garden and Nursery Labourers |
Structural Steel Construction Workers |
Car Detailers |
Housekeepers |
Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitters |
Show all
Most Labourer positions do not generally require post-school qualifications, a large share of workers are aged 15 to 24 years and part-time work is common. Accordingly, there are good opportunities for young people to gain work experience or combine work with study.
While formal qualifications are not necessarily a requirement for these roles, some may require mandatory tickets or licences. In addition, job seekers will generally need to possess a driver's licence and their own personal transport.
Sources: ABS, Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations; ABS, Characteristics of Employment; ABS, Education and Work; ABS, Labour Force (seasonally adjusted and annual averages of original data); National Skills Commission, Employers' Recruitment Insights.