The Skills Plan segments demand into 13 industry clusters that, between them, are forecast to need around 373,000 more workers over the next three years.
While most industries will need many more workers, there are also some occupations that are critical for the functioning of industries and regions that require smaller numbers of workers.
Examples include saw technicians, metal casters, specialist engineers, software architects and harbour pilots. The value of these occupations from an industry perspective is high. But the small numbers of workers in these occupations makes it challenging for training to be delivered. The VSA is working across the economy on potential solutions.
Sectors
-
Current workers (2022): 515,050
New workers needed (next 3 years): 65,000
Occupations in demand:
- Aged and Disabled Carers
- Registered Nurses
- Welfare Support Workers
- Physiotherapists
- Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers
- Health and Welfare Services Managers
- Social Workers
- Generalist Medical Practitioners
- Child Carers
- Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers
- Medical Technicians
-
Current workers (2022): 628,700
New workers needed (next 3 years): 64,000
Occupations in demand:
- Software and Applications Programmers
- Solicitors
- Management and Organisation Analysts
- Accountants
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators
- ICT Managers
- Financial Investment Advisers and Managers
- ICT Support Technicians
- Financial Brokers
-
Current workers (2022): 308,900
New workers needed (next 3 years): 41,000
Occupations in demand:
- Education Aides
- Primary School Teachers
- Secondary School Teachers
- University Lecturers and Tutors
- Early Childhood (pre-primary school) Teachers
- Private Tutors and Teachers
- Special Education Teachers
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Vocational Education Teachers
-
Current workers (2022): 811,150
New workers needed (next 3 years): 90,000
Occupations in demand:
- Waiters
- Sales Assistants (General)
- Café and Restaurant Managers
- Kitchenhands
- Chefs
- Fast Food Cooks
- Bar Attendants and Baristas
- Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers
- Delivery Drivers
- Shelf Fillers
-
Current workers (2022): 305,700
New workers needed (next 3 years): 34,000
Occupations in demand:
- Electricians
- Construction Managers
- Plumbers
- Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
- Building and Plumbing Labourers
- Civil Engineering Professionals
- Carpenters and Joiners
- Insulation and Home Improvement Installers
- Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
- Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
- Concreters
-
Current workers (2022): 206,600
New workers needed (next 3 years): 15,000
Occupations in demand:
- Police
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Other Information and Organisation Professionals
- Inspectors and Regulatory Officers
- General Clerks
- Welfare Support Workers
- Aged and Disabled Carers
- Software and Applications Programmers
- Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers
- Management and Organisation Analysts
-
Current workers (2022): 183,350
New workers needed (next 3 years): 26,000
Occupations in demand:
- Automobile Drivers
- Truck Drivers
- Bus and Coach Drivers
- Delivery Drivers
- Storepersons
- Air Transport Professionals
- General Clerks
- Mail Sorters
- Forklift Drivers
- Supply and Distribution Managers
-
Current workers (2022): 105,200
New workers needed (next 3 years): 10,000
Occupations in demand:
- Human Resource Professionals
- Gardeners
- Commercial Cleaners
- Human Resource Managers
- General Clerks
- Aged and Disabled Carers
- Domestic Cleaners
- Welfare Support Workers
- Garden and Nursery Labourers
- Software and Application Programmers
-
Current workers (2022): 52,250
New workers needed (next 3 years): 6,000
Occupations in demand:
- Real Estate Sales Agents
- General Clerks
- Land Economists and Valuers
- Other Sales Assistants and Salespersons
- Advertising and Sales Managers
- Office Managers
- Contract, Program and Project Administrators
- Finance Managers
- Financial Investment Advisers and Managers
-
Current workers (2022): 260,300
New workers needed (next 3 years): 16,000
Occupations in demand:
- Production Managers
- Food and Drink Factory Workers
- Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers
- Manufacturers
- Software and Applications Programmers
- Meat Boners and Slicers, and Slaughterers
- Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Management and Organisation Analysts
- Other Specialist Managers
-
Current workers (2022): 15,850
New workers needed (next 3 years): <1,000
Occupations in demand:
- Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
- Other Building and Engineering Technicians
- Mining Engineers
- Production Managers
- Management and Organisation Analysts
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Human Resource Managers
- Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
- Other Specialist Managers
- Software and Applications Programmers
-
Current workers (2022): 48,750
New workers needed (next 3 years): 4,000
Occupations in demand:
- Other Specialist Managers
- Electrical Engineers
- Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
- Management and Organisation Analysts
- Other Information and Organisation Professionals
- Electricians
- Contract, Program and Project Administrators
- Human Resource Managers
- General Clerks
- ICT Managers
-
Current workers (2022): 68,000
New workers needed (next 3 years): 3,000
Occupations in demand:
- Crop Farmers
- Agricultural, Forestry and Horticultural Plant Operators
- Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers
- Food and Drink Factory Workers
- Production Managers
- Animal Attendants and Trainers
- Other Specialist Managers
References
Current workers: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force Survey, February 2022.
New worker demand: represents employment growth + workers needed to replace retirements, (figures rounded), National Skills Commission employment projections, Nous and VSA analysis, (2022).
Occupations in demand: National Skills Commission employment projections, Nous and VSA analysis, (2022). Several occupations are shared across a number of sectors.
Reviewed 06 September 2022