Australia has a relatively small population, but it has a strong economy and offers a wide variety of employment options. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade states, “Since 1992, our economy has grown faster than any other major developed country. We have plentiful natural resources and a sophisticated services sector backed by a highly educated workforce.” Austrade, which is Australia's national investment promotion agency, insists, “Australia’s economy is strong and resilient, consistently outpacing other advanced economies.” In terms of GDP, Australia ranks in the top twenty countries worldwide.
Australia has a very diverse workforce. The Australian Bureau of Statistics finds that the states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria employ the most people. The government website, Jobs and Skills Australia, details the composition of the country’s workforce:
According to Austrade, more than 260,000 people are employed in health and life sciences in Australia, and employment has grown by more than 40% since 2019. It reports that Australia is a world leader in some health fields, including gene-cell therapies and vaccines, and states, “Our health sector pioneered the GARDASIL HPV vaccine, the cochlear ear implant, the CPAP breathing device and ‘spray-on’ skin.” Austrade finds that most people working in health and life sciences in Australia hold an advanced degree.
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that the retail industry is Australia’s second-largest employer. It says, “Retail trade businesses… usually trade from shop fronts that attract high numbers of walk-in customers; however, the industry includes an increasing number of businesses involved in online retailing.” According to Jobs and Skills Australia, about 1.3 million people are employed in retail in Australia.
Australia also has a thriving tech market. According to Austrade, the country is a leader in cybersecurity, ranking 9th worldwide for revenue. The agency also finds that Australia is a leader in FinTech, ranking sixth in the world, with a market valued at $45 billion. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that about 1.3 million people are employed in professional, scientific, and technical services. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, tech workers are more concentrated in cities, and they earn a higher-than-average salary.
A substantial number of people work in this field. It includes government roles, jobs that involve enforcing regulations, and public-safety positions. About 970,000 people work in these types of jobs, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Salaries in this field are higher than average.
Australia’s manufacturing industry employs about 880,000 people, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. Products manufactured in this country include textiles, footwear, wood and paper products, food, beverages, mineral products, metal products, machinery, furniture, petroleum products, and coal products. This field is male-dominated, with only about 30% of the workforce female.
Construction is a major employer, and approximately 1.3 million people work in Australia’s construction industry, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. This field is also male-dominated, and about 13% of workers are female. Jobs include residential and non-residential construction; demolition; engineering; and site preparation.
Education is also a major Australian employer. Educators work in schools, universities, technical colleges, and training centers. They earn a higher-than-average salary. 1.2 million people work in education in Australia, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Median weekly salaries according to Jobs and Skills Australia:
Growth is expected in Australia’s job market over the next ten years. Jobs and Skills Australia projects an increase of about 950,000 jobs over the next five years (6.6% growth rate) and almost 2 million over the next ten years (13.7% growth). It says that the services industries have been adding the most jobs in recent years and predicts that this trend will continue, with particularly strong growth in education and training, healthcare and social services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. This last category is expected to see the fastest job growth of all; more than 10% in the next five years and more than 20% over the next ten years.
Australia has worker shortages in a number of industries, and offers visas for foreign workers who have the needed skills. In-demand roles include renewable energy engineers, nurses and other healthcare workers, tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, carpenters), teachers, and IT experts.