The future workforce
Melbourne has a big population, so there are always a lot of jobs in every industry. Jobs in the health care and community services industry are in high demand. This is to meet the needs of a growing population.
There are many opportunities in construction, clean energy and manufacturing. This is due to major investments in infrastructure. The Big Build program(opens in a new window) can help you get an apprenticeship on big infrastructure projects in Victoria.
Being a world-famous tourist destination brings in thousands of international visitors. This means there is no shortage of retail, hospitality and tourism jobs.
In Melbourne’s CBD, you will find a training and skills pathway that aligns perfectly with what you want to do.
Top jobs with a VET pathway
Below are some top occupations in inner metropolitan Melbourne which can be entered through a Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathway. Figures show the number of workers in 2023 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2026.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 years. These forecasts are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
| Occupation | Workers 2023 | Workforce growth 2023-2026 | New workers needed by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational education teachers | 4,173 | 6.0% | 1,165 |
| Aged and disabled carers | 13,268 | 5.2% | 3,529 |
| Software and application programmers | 34,372 | 2.9% | 3,923 |
| Registered nurses | 22,607 | 2.1% | 2,882 |
| Accountants | 27,823 | 1.3% | 2,025 |
Top industries
Below are the top 10 industries in inner metropolitan Melbourne in 2023. Figures show the number of workers in 2023 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2026.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next 3 years. These forecasts are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
| Industry | Workers 2023 | Workforce growth 2023-2026 | New workers needed by 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education and training | 44,510 | 5.4% | 10,809 |
| Accommodation and food services | 40,244 | 3.7% | 6,910 |
| Health care and social assistance | 79,340 | 3.5% | 13,520 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 178,755 | 1.8% | 17,903 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 31,113 | 1.9% | 4,181 |
| Public administration and safety | 67,632 | 1.0% | 6,335 |
| Financial and insurance services | 107,921 | 0.5% | 7,004 |
| Information media and telecommunications | 29,022 | 0.6% | 1,939 |
| Construction | 33,926 | 0.4% | 2,317 |
| Retail trade | 40,429 | -0.3% | 1,733 |
Resources to plan your next steps
Visit our central Melbourne regional profile to learn more about:
- where you can do a training course
- local career stories
- help finding a job and planning a career in your area
- future job growth and top industries in the region.
Explore growing industries across Victoria
Training and careers in growing industries
Learn about high demand industries in Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of job you could do, and what training you’ll need.
Training and careers in your region
Explore training, skills and job opportunities in your area of Victoria. Find out where you could work, what kind of job you could do, and what training you’ll need.
* Sourced from Victorian Skills Authority Employment Forecast Dashboard. Note that the qualification levels required for these occupations will vary.
Updated