SA skills crisis: The 335 jobs you should be training for now
Not sure what career path to take? Explore the 335 jobs in 19 sectors experts say will be in demand over the next five years. SEARCH THE DATA.
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These are the more than 300 jobs, across 19 sectors of the SA economy that State Government experts predict will be in high demand over the next five years.
The list is the culmination of a year-long study – including the impact of COVID-19 restrictions – by the SA Training and Skills commission using employers to highlight roles in which they will need workers.
Nineteen reports have been released by the State Government to help school leavers and others train or re-train for the job market.
Chair of the Training and Skills Commission Michael Boyce said while COVID-19 had led to changes in the jobs market, there was still a need for SA to create “growth-oriented employment profile which will meet the demands of industry and workers.
“The ‘insight’ reports are based on work by eight industry skills councils and their networks, examining relevant labour market and training data along with industry research, to explore the latest trends in skills and workforce development.”
The sector with the most need for workers is agribusiness, with 150 categories of workers needed from sports turf manager to zoologist.
The aged care sector needs workers for around 30 categories of jobs, health around 70 and the disability sector around 20.
Shaona Imaru, 20, said she had been advised about the opportunities in aged care while at high school and had been offered a job with Uniting SA even before her training finished in 2018.
EXPLORE THE SECTORS CRYING OUT FOR SKILLED WORKERS
“I always wanted to do something in the health industry from a very young age but it was good to have advice about where the demand would be,’’ she said.
“It helps to have direction, and to know what pathway to follow.”
Ms Imaru was Australian Vocational Student of the Year at the 2019 Australian Training Awards and is now also training as a nurse.
Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni said the list of jobs for which there are expected to be shortages was part of an overhaul by the incoming Marshall government and a new focus on skills training in key sectors.
He said the work would be ongoing, as employment priorities changed following the effects of COVID-19 on the economy.
“The Marshall Government established eight Industry Skills Councils (ISCs) and renewed the Training and Skills Commission,’’ Mr Pisoni said.
“We’ve worked with industry to identify skills gaps and develop training pathways to meet those gaps.
“For example, through the development of paid training pathways in the care sector and in the rapidly growing cyber security sector.
“The Workforce Insights inform the State Government’s planners and support employers and individuals to make informed decisions about their workforce and skill development.”
Mr Pisoni said experts were now working very closely with industry to meet job demands.
“The ISCs strengthen the voice of industry in skills and workforce development and ensure funding for skills and training is directly aligned to industry priorities.
“In response to COVID-19, State Government is working very closely with the Training and Skills Commission to support apprentices, employers and Registered Training Organisations to maintain momentum for skills development.’’