Trades, retail, hospitality among the industries most likely to hire you

An employment market slump has led to more competition for fewer jobs – but smart jobseekers can target certain industries to give themselves a better chance of being hired. See the list.

One in three out-of-work Aussies are turning to the trades sector, as an employment market slump sees more competition for fewer roles.

Vulnerable jobseekers, including a recent influx of school leavers, have been most affected by the downturn. But there are now fears senior managers could be at risk next, with many companies rethinking their recruitment strategies.

The number of registered jobseekers finding work fell by 11.8 per cent at the end of last year, according to a new report from Workskil Australia. This marked a sharp reversal from the 10.8 per cent increase recorded during the previous quarter.

Experts say bosses are slowly regaining the power that has seen workers demand sky-high salaries and other benefits, as the effect of inflation starts to return the employment market to pre-Covid conditions.

“We’re seeing the effects of rising costs of living and interest rates flowing through to the jobs market,” Workskil Australia chief executive officer Nicole Dwyer says.

“This is having the greatest impact on the most vulnerable jobseekers as they compete against more experienced and skilled people for fewer available roles.”

The trades, retail and hospitality sectors are among those still hiring new staff.

Who’s still hiring

As competition for job vacancies heats up, the trades sector is proving a lifeline to Australia’s most disadvantaged jobseekers. It accounts for 32 per cent of total hires, the Workskil Australia report shows.

The retail and hospitality sectors both employ about 11 per cent of registered jobseekers, including school leavers, older Australians, First Nations people, migrants and those with a disability.

While vacancies are becoming scarcer in the tightened jobs market, Dwyer says opportunities still exist, particularly for physical roles such as builder’s labourers.

Warehouse and truck driving jobs are also available, she says, noting that entry-level roles are a “foot in the door” that build networks to find further employment.

Dwyer urges jobseekers to think outside traditional roles to find their niche.

“There’s lot of picker and packer-type roles for online shopping and they don’t need any qualifications,” she says. “And call centres are still looking (to fill) customer service roles.

“Community services, butchery and bakery and hair and beauty all need more workers. You do need a qualification to work (in some roles) in those spaces but there are all those related roles in those careers – waxing is unskilled and can be a role of its own within hair and beauty.”

White-collar worries

Plenty of opportunities exist for white-collar workers looking to get a start in finance, technology, construction and healthcare, says Jas Singh, founder of recruitment firm SKL Executive.

But he warns job cuts among senior management are cause for concern, as employers look to spread their salary budgets further.

“The junior to mid-level is where the hiring is strong but … redundancies in senior levels are on the rise across the white-collar sector,” Singh says.

“The spend benefit is sometimes greater (for businesses) if they spend on three young people as opposed to the same salary on one (more senior) person.

“Sometimes, it’s just a coward’s way of cost cutting because the more people you lay off, the more you appear in the press – (making fewer redundancies at a senior level) happens more quietly (but has the same cost-saving effect).”

White-collar workers who fear being sacked should “plan accordingly” and retrain for a new career in the “booming” cyber security and data analytics industries, Singh says.

“In the short-term, also consider participating in the gig economy to ensure the bills are covered, this includes driving an Uber (or) parcel delivery,” he says.

“In short, be bold, strategic and tackle the issue head on to get to where you want to in life.”

Trades sector worker Wayne Creek.

‘Hard yakka’

Opportunities within the trades sector have kept Wayne Creek, 60, in work for more than five decades, starting when he mowed lawns while still at school.

Since then, he has pumped petrol, serviced vehicles and worked in concreting, construction, painting and fencing.

“I love outdoor, hands-on work – hard yakka. Always have, always will,” he says.

Forced out of the workforce after suffering a heart attack, Creek recently underwent training to formalise the skills he had learned on-the-job. He gained his skid, steer and roller licences, as well as accreditation to work at heights, in confined spaces and in basic construction.

He was hired by civil construction company Catcon before Christmas. But, two weeks in, a cancer diagnosis again put work on hold and Creek only returned to his job last month, after successful radiation treatment.

“Catcon said they thought I was a keeper and to take as much time as I needed and when I was ready, there would still be a job for me,” he says.

“I get pretty emotional when I talk about it. It’s more than money, it’s about purpose.

“I’ve got a great family but there’s nothing like having work mates and the satisfaction you get through your work.”

Top hiring industries

1. Trades and Services

2. Retail

3. Hospitality and tourism

4. Transport and logistics

5. Manufacturing

6. Administration and office support

7. Community services

8. Health and medical

9. Customer service and call centre

10. Construction

Top hiring jobs

1. Builder’s labourer

2. Sales assistants (general)

3. Truck drivers

4. Road traffic controller

5. Call or contact centre operator

6. Commercial cleaners

7. Packers

8. Kitchen hands

9. Other factory process workers

10. Bar attendant

Source: Workskil Australia

Originally published as Trades, retail, hospitality among the industries most likely to hire you