Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox
The Government’s latest Jobs and Skills Report has just been released, outlining the highest paying and most in-demand jobs in Australia, and offering some much-needed clarity for those in need of professional direction.
Working out what you want to do with your life, when it comes to career pathways, is hard enough without having to factor in a rapidly changing industry landscape. Add in a global cost-of-living crisis to the mix and you’ve got yourself a recipe for potential overwhelm.
As Australia’s workforce continues to shift towards a greater focus on higher skilled roles, it’s more important than ever to identify where your interests and professional possibility align.
So what are the areas and industries that are set to boom in 2025 and beyond?
Australia’s Emerging Roles
The way we work will continue to change over time, and while new skills are often incorporated into existing titles and structures as a way to ‘upskill’ or meet the demands of the role, it also means that we will continue to see the creation of entirely new roles, too.
According to the report, the biggest factors in identifying Australia’s most in-demand jobs are related to the following:
“Major forces are shaping our economy – technological and digital transformation, our response to climate change and the goal of ‘net zero’, an ageing population, and a rising demand for care and support services.”
“Changing societal dynamics and consumer preferences are also impacting jobs and work. In some cases, these forces are shaping how we undertake our work, and in some cases they are driving the emergence of entirely new roles.”
Additionally, the report identified thirty-seven emerging roles across four key themes, including Health, Care and Medical, Data and Technologies, Net Zero and Science and Engineering.
Of those pillars, the largest number of possible new roles were aligned with the Health, Care and Medical sectors, followed closely by Data and Technology.
Which Are The Most In-Demand Jobs In Australia?
According to recent job trends data compiled by Seek, industries such as Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, and Banking, saw the highest number of job ads and vacancies in the last months of 2024.
When it comes to specific roles, the need for tutors increased by 42.3 per cent from November-December, while job ads for dentists saw a 14.4 per cent increase.
Demand for software engineers, dental assistants, electricians and registrars also featured in the top six most sought after roles.
Healthcare
As reflected in the recent Jobs and Skills report, the most noticeable growth (by share of employment) is projected to occur in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry between now and 2034.
While the data doesn’t come as a surprise when we think about the importance of the services included within this industry and the fact that it currently accounts for 15.6 per cent of Australia’s workers, the level of rapid growth in the sector does come as somewhat of a surprise considering it’s basic median earnings are lower than all other industries.
Largest employing occupations according to ABS Labour Force Survey:
- Registered Nurses
- Aged and Disabled Carers
- Child Carers
- Receptionists
- Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers
- General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers
- Welfare Support Workers
- General Clerks
- Physiotherapists
- Health and Welfare Services Managers
Technology & Data
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services is the second largest employment industry taking up 9.2 per cent of the workforce share.
As one of the biggest growth industries, the report has identified the most areas of opportunity within the Computer System Design and Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services fields. So if you’ve ever considered a career in IT – this might just be the incentive you need to make the switch.
Elsewhere in the industry, fields such as Legal and Accounting Services and Management and Related Consulting Services are also rising in demand.
Largest employing occupations
- Software and Applications Programmers
- Accountants
- Solicitors
- Management and Organisation Analysts
- ICT Managers
- Advertising and Marketing Professionals
- Civil Engineering Professionals
- Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Manager
- Graphic and Web Designers
- Architects and Landscape Architects
E-Commerce
As our thirst for online shopping continues to rise, so too will the demand for E-Commerce-related roles. According to a report published by Expert Market Research, the sector is set to experience a growth rate of 5.3 per cent between now and 2032 as key players such as Kogan, Amazon, Woolworths, Coles and JB Hi-Fi continue to dominate the industry.
What Career Has The Highest Salary In Australia?
While the above might be where Australia will see it’s biggest areas of growth in terms of employment opportunities, salary expectation and reality for those roles don’t necessarily go hand in hand. So what are the highest paying jobs in Australia currently?
Neurosurgeons tend to stay at the top of the list of highest paying jobs in Australia, with an average salary of $604,582, followed by plastic and reconstructive surgeons at $568,439 and ophthalmologists at $592,414.
Following closely behind is the role of anaesthetist, with an annual salary ranging from $405,000 to $425,000 according to Seek.
Unsurprisingly, workers in the financial sector take home a tidy post-tax profit with an average salary of $341,789 – including bonuses.
Also featured in Seek’s list of highest paying jobs are the following job titles:
1 Psychiatrist: $236,055
2 Project Director: 232,682
3 General Practitioner: $232,450
4 Staff Specialist (Healthcare & Medical): $222,503
5 Engineering Manager: $181,783
6 Engineering Lead: $171,441
7 Financial Planning and Analysis Manager: $167,445
8 Electrical Supervisor (Mining, Resources & Energy): $164, 545
9 Reliability Engineer (Mining, Resources & Energy): $158,347
10 Functional Consultant (Information & Communication Technology): $155,266
Highest-paying roles & average salary
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