Technology and digital skills dominate fastest growing skills clusters
The National Skills Commission (NSC) has revealed the top 10 skills that are slated to grow the most in the next four years, to 2025, in an interactive table at: Five Year Skills Cluster Outlook | National Skills Commission.
“With the growing use of technology throughout our lives, it’s not surprising that the fastest growing skills clusters in the immediate future are ‘test computer or software performance’ and ‘resolve computer application or systems issues’. The first is expected to grow by 28% and the second by 25%,” says National Skills Commissioner Adam Boyton.
“In fact, four of the top 10 skills come from the skills family of ‘computers and electronics’, reflecting the skills needed to respond to the digital world. In sixth place, anticipating growth of 21% is ‘develop websites or software’, and in ninth place with 20% growth is ‘ICT support, design and management’.”
| Specialist Cluster | Growth (%) |
|---|---|
| Test computer or software performance | 28 |
| Resolve computer application or systems issues | 25 |
| Develop and administer testing routines or procedures | 23 |
| Develop and maintain emergency plans | 22 |
| Undertake food service activities | 21 |
| Develop websites or software | 21 |
| Improve operational performance | 20 |
| Assist individuals with accessibility needs | 20 |
| ICT support, design and management | 20 |
| Teach health management or hygiene practices | 20 |
The NSC’s Australian Skills Classification systematically sets out the skills required for jobs in three categories: specialist tasks, technology tools and core competencies.
Specialist tasks are then clustered together. So, it’s likely if you can do one task in a cluster, you can do all of them. The clusters are then further grouped together into families of skills.
Perhaps reflecting the era of COVID-19 and natural disasters, ‘develop and maintain emergency plans’ is expected to grow by 22%. This cluster applies to jobs across the health field, public relations and technology.
In fifth place, reflecting the strong demand in the food and accommodation sector is: ‘undertake food service activities’, with growth of just over 20% predicted, as this sector bounces back from the pandemic.
“In the health and care cluster family, ‘assist individuals with accessibility needs’ reflects the growth in the caring professions and the NDIS, but also accessibility in wider society, such as tourism and cultural activities. Similarly, strong growth is expected in ‘teach health management or hygiene practices’, a skill associated with roles like Aged and Disabled Carers, Residential Care Officers and Child Care Workers,” Mr Boyton says.