Where to find a job in 2021
The COVID-19 outbreak had a swift and dramatic effect on the jobs market. Experts predict the longer-term trends and where job growth will continue.
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Australia’s jobs market has shifted drastically since the pandemic, with many changes expected to last well beyond 2020.
Aside form short-term effects such as jobs disappearing in hospitality and tourism but appearing in supermarkets and logistics, longer-term trends have also been sparked in areas from information and communication technology to contact centres.
Hender Careers principal consultant Paul Bell says current areas of growth are disability and human services; aged care; health, particularly mental health services; ICT professional services; housing; intrastate transport; supermarkets; home renovations and furniture; and intrastate tourism, such as in wine regions.
In South Australia, the space industry is also growing with the establishment of the Australian Space Agency.
Although he expects most of these areas will continue to increase beyond the pandemic, Bell says the housing sector may experience only a short-term boost.
“Government stimulus as a result of the pandemic has noticeably fuelled growth in the housing sector,” he says.
“A colleague of mine spoke with someone from the sector who say they have seen 400 per cent growth.”
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal there were 34,750 more people working in building construction in August, 2020, compared to August, 2019 – up 12 per cent year on year.
Another sector that has experienced significant employment growth during this period is ICT.
The ABS data shows 28,168 more Australians were working in computer system design and related services in August, 2020, compared to August, 2019 – up 11 per cent year on year.
UiPath managing director and vice president for Australia and New Zealand Andrew Phillips says there is particular demand for skills in robotic process automation (RPA) and this has accelerated as a result of the pandemic.
“More businesses have digitally transformed and turned to RPA technology to recover faster and be better prepared for both future risks and new opportunities,” he says.
“In a recent survey, we found that 92 per cent of RPA professionals believe the industry has a high potential for growth in the next five years, while 70 per cent believe their organisations will hire more developers in the next year.”
Phillips says anyone considering this line of work can get started with online training and
certification, such as through UiPath Academy’s free RPA training.
Call and contact centres have also experienced accelerated employment since the pandemic.
Citrus Group general manager Mary Blake says demand increased after COVID-19 caused many offshore contact centres to close.
A survey by the contact centre recruitment specialists found headcounts in contact centres increased by an average of 38 per cent in response to the disruption.
“We have made 22.7 per cent more placements during the period of 1 March to 31 August this year compared to last,” she says.
“I would encourage any person who has been hit with unemployment, or seeking a new role, to consider a rewarding career in the contact centre industry.
“These jobs are open to anyone, and businesses are looking for people of all ages and all skill levels to join their growing onshore teams.”
HEALTH AND CARE JOBS CONTINUE TO GROW
Demand for health and aged care professionals began well before the pandemic – and it is not predicted to slow down.
ABS figures reveal more than 30,000 extra healthcare and social assistance roles were created in the year to August, 2020, including about 15,800 in hospitals.
Lyell McEwin Hospital assistant nurse and UnitingSA Hawksbury Gardens Aged Care carer Shaona Imaru encourages anyone considering her industry to give it a go.
“We need nurses, we need carers,” she says.
“We are always going to need them so go for it, don’t be discouraged.
“There is a stereotype that aged care is not for young workers but the job is for anyone and everyone – just go for it.”
She says the best thing about working in the health industry is knowing you are giving back to the community and helping someone.
“For me, that brings joy,” the 20-year-old says.
“With aged care, I feel like its so special to be part of someone’s life and especially the last stages.
“It’s special to provide help when they need it most.”
Imaru, who was named 2019 Vocational Student of the Year at the Australian Training Awards, landed her aged care role after studying a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance and is now in the second year of a nursing degree.
“I would highly recommend starting with vocational education because it gives you the opportunity to put theoretical knowledge into practice at an early stage so you have exposure to the industry and you know if it’s something you really want to do before you commit to a three or four-year degree at university,” she says.
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