There are all sorts of considerations to take into account when selecting a career.
What are you interested in and where do your passions lie?
What attributes, soft skills and natural aptitudes do you have and how could these help you excel in certain jobs?
And importantly, which career path will open plenty of doors and lead to employment? Luckily, we can help with this point.
In this article, we look at some of the occupations that will be needing workers to 2026, based on the National Skills Commission Employment Outlook report. The report is based on employment projections from November 2021 to November 2026.
According to the report, the four largest growing industries are:
- Health care and social assistance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Education and training
- Accommodation and food services.
Here are the top five occupations with the largest projected employment growth.
Aged and disabled carers
Topping the list are aged and disabled carers. It’s no wonder, given Australia’s ageing population and the ongoing demand for disability workers generated by the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Over the five years to November 2026, the number of aged and disabled care workers is expected to grow very strongly (by 28%, or 74,900 jobs) and reach 341,800 by 2026.
So, what does this job involve? Aged or disabled carers, personal care workers or personal carers provide general household assistance, emotional support, care and company to the elderly or disabled in their own homes.
If you’re caring and compassionate, empathetic and like the idea of helping others, this could be the career for you. You can expect to take home average weekly earnings of around $1382 as a full-time worker.
Chisholm offers a range of courses to help you get started. Examples include the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community), the Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), the Certificate IV in Ageing Support or the Certificate IV in Disability Support.
Software and Applications Programmers
Another occupation with high future growth prospects is software and applications programmers.
By 2026, the number of workers employed in this field is likely to reach 198,400. That’s a projected change from 2021 to 2026 of 27%, or 42,200 new jobs.
Software and applications programmers do all sorts of tasks, from writing program code and technical programs to testing, debugging and ironing out issues with applications.
The earning potential is strong – full-time workers make $2,208 on average a week.
However, you’ll have to be prepared to work hard to get there. A bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as programming, software engineering, software development or computer science) is usually needed. In some instances, a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification can help you get a foot in the door.
Chisholm offers a range of IT courses that can open up different pathways to becoming a software and applications programmer, including the Certificate III in Information Technology and the Certificate IV in Information Technology (specialising in Programming and Database Development).
Registered nurses
Demand for registered nurses is likely to continue to grow and reach 331,200 by 2026 – up 40,400 jobs from 290,800 in 2021.
Whether you’re caring for patients in hospitals, aged care facilities or other health care facilities, a career as a registered nurse can be rewarding – not just emotionally but financially too. Full-time registered nurses take home $1937 per week on average.
Chisholm offers several pathways into nursing, with the Diploma of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse) La Trobe University partnership.
Clerical and administrative workers
The need for clerical and administrative workers (general clerks) is expected to increase in coming years. There are likely to be 35,700 more positions to fill by 2026 – a projected change of 12.9% since 2021.
If you’re unsure about what a general clerk does, they perform a range of administrative and clerical tasks. From filing information and sending out mail, to photocopying and performing receptionist duties, their work is varied and dynamic. On average, general clerks earn around $1223 per week.
Administrators need to be good at building relationships, time management and working in a team. If this sounds like you, Chisholm can help you get started.
A Certificate III in Business or Certificate IV in Business traineeship is a fantastic option for those looking to gain real-world practical experience while expanding their knowledge-base.
Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
A career as a database and systems administrator or ICT (information and communication technology) specialist could be a promising choice for those looking for high-demand roles.
The projected growth from 2021 to 2026 is expected to be 38.9%, equating to 29,100 new jobs and bringing the total to 104,000 positions in 2026.
Broadly speaking, database and systems administrators and ICT specialists take care of an organisation’s database management systems, operating systems and security policies and procedures.
Not only are these professionals in high demand, they also yield high salaries – the median full-time wage is $2,342 per week.
To work in this area, you’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree in a related information technology field (database design, network security, systems administration or networking). Some workers have VET qualifications.
Chisholm offers a range of IT courses that may help you pathway to further study in this area.
Ready to get started?
When you consider that more than 9 in 10 new jobs are projected to require post-school education, it’s worth looking into the kind of study you need to do to reach your goals.
To find out more about in-demand careers and the relevant Chisholm course to study, get in touch today.
Still not sure which career is right for you? Take this career quiz.
