Where we’ll find work after the coronavirus pandemic
Experts are confident Victoria’s flagging jobs market can recover quickly from the coronavirus lockdown but which industries will be booming and which will fall behind?
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Health, agriculture and technology are tipped to be Victoria’s boom industries as the state attempts to revive its flagging jobs market.
Investment in medical research, better quality aged care and the public service will help revitalise the workforce, with experts confident Victoria can recover quickly.
Centre for Future Work director Jim Stanford said jobs in essential services were a top choice for people with a career change in mind and also seeking job security.
“Aged-care facilities were a weak link in our healthcare chain, but we are going to need to invest in better quality care and that’s going to create jobs,” he said.
“But for the economy as a whole, it’s going to have to be government, public services and public investment that really paves the way.”
Treasurer Tim Pallas said the state would not abandon its strategy to bring in foreign investment to keep the economy moving.
The government has been liaising with 40 overseas businesses in digital technology, advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, agrifood, new energy and emissions reduction, as part of its long-term strategy that could create thousands of jobs.
It comes as the state ploughs ahead with unprecedented initiatives to get people back to work.
This includes a $2.7 billion building works package to create 3700 jobs, on top of the $400 million package to keep casual public sector workers on the job.
“More Victorians means our economy will rebound faster,” Mr Pallas said.
“We’ve always said Victoria is the engine room of the nation’s economy — and now we’re kicking into gear.”
Now the worst of the pandemic has passed, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said there was also opportunities for businesses and an “exciting time for innovation”.
“I am actually quite excited about what this period can do,” he said,
“When you have a look at Victoria, our agriculture sector has a big future, our climate and global reputation means all produce coming from Victoria is well regarded.
“There is also opportunities in artificial intelligence, technology, e-commerce, as digitalisation will be the future and we have a real opportunity to leverage our capability there.“
Other areas where jobs are likely to emerge quickly would be business mentoring, manufacturing, telehealth, medical research, energy and renewables.
The positive outlook comes after the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures revealed Victoria was the hardest hit by job losses, with payroll positions sliding 8.4 per cent between mid-March and early May.
This compares to 7.7 per cent in NSW and the national average of 7.3 per cent.
Workers in the accommodation and food services sector were the worst off with a 28.4 per cent decline in jobs, followed by the arts and real estate industries.
However, with the state preparing to finally ease restrictions and more than 4300 laid-off workers already put back to work under the taxpayer-funded Working for Victoria program, the recovery has begun.
But the Deloitte Access Economics jobs report released on Wednesday forecast the hospitality, entertainment and arts sectors would not fully recover until 2026
The telecommunications, education and property sectors would take up to 18 months to get back on track.
Retail has also been pegged as an industry where employment may be unstable, due to uncertainty over online and real-world purchasing habits in the future.
Simon Lennox, who runs popular South Yarra venue The Osborne Rooftop and Bar, will reopen on June 22 with 50 people allowed inside.
“It’s a big venue, but we’re prepared to operate within the guidelines,” he said. “I’ve been in the hospitality industry for 30 years, owning nightclubs and bars, and the landscape moving forward is unknown. It’s a difficult time. But with JobKeeper I’ve retained staff, and they’re itching to return.”
WHERE THE FUTURE JOBS ARE
Health
Aged care
Mental health
Social services
Public service
Logistics
Cyber security
Childcare
Local councils
Manufacturing
Renewable energy sector
Waste and recycling
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
Artificial Intelligence
BUSINESSES WHERE JOBS WILL LAG
Movie theatres
Cafes and pubs
Massage, nail and beauty salons
Start-ups
Travel agents and tourism roles
Retail
SAFETY TAKES PRIORITY AS DOORS SET TO REOPEN
Staggered start times, bans on communal areas and temperature checks will face workers when they return to offices in post-lockdown safety measures.
With thousands of employees on the brink of returning to work, employers are being warned not to ignore their duty when it comes to infection control.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said planning was underway, including staggered start and break times, removing shared desks, shutting down communal areas and temperature testing.
“There is no vaccine for this virus, so the simple thing is to stop the spread,” Mr Guerra said. “That means business owners have to take things seriously, but so do employees.
“Staggered start and finish times will make sure the 1.5m is adhered to in the workplace. Additional cleaning will be needed as well.”
Many inner-city buildings have already brought in mandated temperature checking at entrances, which Mr Guerra said would be “intimidating to staff” but necessary.
ANZ deputy chief executive Alexis George said only a third of the workforce would return initially.
Thermal scanners would also be introduced at the entrances of buildings to check employees’ temperatures.
At Melbourne Airport, hand sanitiser units have been installed in terminals and physical distancing measures put in place at security check points in preparation for the ramping up of air travel as restrictions ease.
Restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs are also making safety plans for when restrictions ease on June 1.
Rice Paper Scissors’ executive chef Noah Crowcroft said his restaurant in Fitzroy was planning ahead so it would be ready to open on June 3 after the ban was lifted.
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” Mr Crowcroft said.
“It has been a real struggle having to close for six weeks, but from our opening we will have up to 20 people in the restaurant at a time.
“We have had to lose a few tables to make sure there is a proper social distancing between patrons and have done all the obvious things like bringing in hand sanitiser and signs about hygiene.”
To minimise the risk of transmissions, the restaurant has removed communal cutlery holders and will instead use individual sets for each diner.
Shared plates on the menu have also been reduced to cater to a maximum of three people.
COFFEE SISTERS BEAT THE GRIND
Savvy Victorians are using the lockdown to retrain and discover the dream of being their own boss.
Sisters Katie Devic, 34, and Melissa Glentis, 37, both saw their work grind to a halt after coronavirus shutdowns, but rather than tuning into Netflix, they launched their own coffee bean business, the Daly St Roasters.
“I really wanted was to start my own coffee company with my sister — an idea we floated several times,” Ms Devic said. “She was hit hard at the cafe so we thought rather than sit here and feel sorry about what was happening, let’s use this opportunity to start our new venture and help Melbourne return to the coffee and cafe culture it’s known for.”
The pair have more than 30 years’ experience in cafes and coffee roasting and quickly set about making their own blends.
They also made a commitment to using fully sustainable packaging, which stands out with its hot-pink branding.
However, with face-to-face meetings ruled out, getting new clients has meant hitting the phones and delivering beans personally.
“Coffee is one of life’s simple pleasures and if we can get people enjoying it again at cafes, at their homes, at their workplaces, it’ll just bring back some kind of normality,” Ms Glentis said.
“We also want to create more jobs as Daly St Roasters grows — we will need account managers, delivery drivers, admin staff, stock control, to not only help us but create more jobs and help stimulate the economy, which needs an almighty boost.”
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— with Jackie Epstein