Job growth areas during COVID-19 pandemic

The biggest change to Australia’s workforce since The Great Depression in less than a month has prompted economists to warn unemployed people to be prepared to become police officers, aged care workers or tradies if they want a job in a post-coronavirus future.

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The biggest change to Australia’s workforce since The Great Depression in less than a month has prompted economists to warn unemployed people to be prepared to become police officers, aged care workers or tradies if they want a job in a post-coronavirus future.

University of Sydney economist Professor John Buchanan predicted a jobs boom in the health, education, food supply chain and utility industries because they were either government funded or considered “essential” as people turn back to basics in a coronavirus-induced recession.

“There will be a need for support services in finance, hospitality and retail but unless we get these foundations right, nothing works — that is what the coronavirus has identified,” he said.

Bondi builder Nathan Feller said business has been booming since the COVID-19 epidemic. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Business futurist Morris Miselowski said in addition to essential services, jobs in tech would grow following the shift from bricks-and-mortar workplaces to video conferencing.

“Police will also go gangbusters,” he said. “What we know is post war, if you go back through history … the police force has always blossomed.”

In the short term, he predicts jobs for personal trainers and delivery drivers would boom while tradies will also benefit.

“Because (people) have been home more, they’re thinking about when I have a little bit of money I want to make some changes to my home,” he said.

“Major infrastructure will definitely continue because the government will invest so that we continue to have an economy.”

Builder Nathan Feller said his business, Clever Built Constructions, was still going strong. “Since Monday I have had five or six calls for major works to be done,” he said.

“At the moment, I still have clients who are telling me to push on and continue working.”

He is in a lucky minority, with job advertising in NSW down by 67 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to Seek.

Across the country, Seek found jobs in sport and recreation jobs were the most affected, with new jobs advertising down by 97 per cent for the sector while hospitality and tourism job ads dropped by 84 per cent.

Milly Darby and Max Kooyman-Hardge from Melbourne-based Mr Miyagi are waiters who have switched to being food delivery drivers to stay employed. Picture: Jason Edwards

Employment and Skills Minister Michaelia Cash urged Australians who lost their jobs because of COVID-19 to use their free time to upskill through online courses.

“There are signs of growth in certain areas and we expect around 50,000 jobs to (be) advertised in the coming weeks,” Ms Cash said.

TAFE NSW is offering 21 online courses for free during the pandemic, including website development, eMarketing, accounting, pharmacy training and digital literacy.

A Department of Education spokesman said NSW faced skills shortages in industries such as construction, hospitality, health and aged care.

University of Technology economist Scott Kelly said the mining industry would continue to offer jobs because of Australia’s strong trading relationship with China.

He also urged students to study information technology skills like data visualisations and learning how to code.