National Skills Commission reveals the most wanted workers in Australia
Australians considering a career change during the pandemic may do well to set their sights on one of these dozen occupations.
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There may be significantly fewer jobs available since the coronavirus pandemic, but pockets of job growth still exist and there is a good range of occupations currently in high demand.
A survey of 2225 Australian employers, by the National Skills Commission, reveals child carers, retail sales assistants, receptionists, truck drivers and managers were the most in-demand workers in the four weeks to July 3.
Sales representatives, dental assistants, metal fabricators and welders, registered nurses, aged and disability carers, metal fitters and machinists, and motor mechanics round out the top 12.
Cochrane’s Transport human resources and safety manager David Ritchie says there is higher than normal demand for drivers at the moment, largely owing to the surge in online shopping increasing freight volumes.
Truck drivers have been among the top five most in-demand workers in every report from the National Skills Commission since the pandemic hit.
“In addition to the pandemic encouraging people to shop online rather than in person, the higher demand can be traced back to the good start we had to the farming season – early rainfall has loosened wallets,” Ritchie says.
“Whether demand will continue to grow is anyone’s guess, but in normal years we usually see freight volumes increase as we head into the warmer months and towards the summer/Christmas peak.”
Meanwhile, Guardian Childcare & Education chief executive Warren Bright says the high demand for child carers was already a trend before COVID-19, and he expects it to continue well into the future.
“We have seen about a 25 per cent increase in the number of places available in childcare over the last five years, so we have needed more educators as a sector,” he says.
“I think that will continue as 98 per cent of centres have remained open during COVID.
“We have been deemed an essential service and COVID hasn’t had an impact on that.”
Guardian Childcare & Education Cherrybrook centre manager Rebecca Iori says the sector suits people who are passionate, energetic and caring.
Iori, who is looking to hire a trainee, says she decided on a career in childcare at a very young age.
“It was on my Year 5 life plan – I always wanted to be a childcare director,” she says.
“I jumped straight from school to university, then straight to running (childcare) rooms, and three years later got my dream job.”
Career coach and author of Navigating Career Crossroads Jane Jackson says anyone wanting to pursue a new career should start with some self-assessment to determine their strengths, skills and motivations.
“(If you are a school leaver,) maybe you were the school captain or captain of the netball team – think about the skills you have developed and use those to market yourself,” she says.
“Employers are looking for someone they can rely on, someone who has really good interpersonal communication skills and someone who has a can-do attitude, who is highly motivated and has a strong work ethic.
“Anyone who has a solutions-focused approach would be very much in demand as well.”
Jackson, who is also the host of Your Career Podcast, recommends workers and jobseekers use LinkedIn to build and present their professional brand.
“If your extended network knows what your specific skills are and what you are aiming for, they are able to help you,’ she says.
“When there is so much competition out there, people are looking for a point of difference, and you need to know what your unique selling point is, otherwise
you are just another resume or candidate.”
7 REASONS RECRUITERS STRUGGLE TO FIND QUALITY CANDIDATES
54% say there is a lack of applicants
35% say applicants lack experience
29% say applicants lack technical skills
28% say applicants lack employability/soft skills
25% say location is a major factor
15% say COVID-19 is a major factor
8% say they struggle as the position is a specialist role
Source: National Skills Commission Employer Survey June 8 – July 3
Originally published as National Skills Commission reveals the most wanted workers in Australia