Care economy leads jobs surge

The number of executive assistants, travel agents and farmers is shrinking.

Growth in the number of fitness instructors was 32.8 per cent, jumping by 9700 to 39,300.

Care economy jobs in health and childcare were among the 10 fastest growing occupations over the past decade, while the number of executive assistants, travel agents and farmers is shrinking, new KPMG Australia analysis has found.

The research into the fastest growing and fastest declining occupations between 2014 and 2024 found the labour market’s occupational structure had been significantly altered by the gig economy and the prioritisation of wellbeing and health.

Over the decade, the number of workers rose by 22.9 per cent from 11.4 million to 14 million, with the ten top-growing occupational groupings accounting for more than one million new workers, or almost 40 per cent of total growth.

The number of aged and disabled care workers and allied health workers have almost doubled over the past decade, while early childhood child care has risen by 52.5 per cent and the number of nurses and midwives has increased by 29 per cent.

Tech and IT professionals, marketers, HR professionals, chefs and cooks, and truck delivery drivers are the other occupations in the top ten.

The research found digitisation of the economy had resulted in major declines in the take-up of occupations including executive assistants and travel agents.

A decline in the number of farmers reflected a shift away from smaller, family-run farms to larger farming operations, while print manufacturing workers and telco repair and installation workers were also among the fastest shrinking jobs over the decade.

KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said the surge in care economy occupations reflected a jobs market responding to Australia’s changing demographics.

“As the older baby boomers enter their late 70s and early 80s the need to rapidly expand aged care and related health services grows stronger,” he said.

“Meanwhile, increased participation of women in the workforce has meant the demand for childcare has similarly increased over the last decade.”

Since 2014, the number of tech and IT professionals, including software programmers, systems administrators, and IT security specialists, has increased by 176,400, a 55 per cent increase.

“These tech and IT professionals design, code, test, and maintain software applications, driving the digital infrastructure behind our essential online banking, shopping, and timesaving apps,” Mr Rawnsley said.

“Many of these professionals also support IT systems across a range of non-tech businesses within the economy, so it isn’t all just about the glamorous end of tech development.”

Childcare jobs were among the 10 fastest growing occupations over the past decade. Picture: Getty Images,

The number of executive assistants has fallen by more than 20 per cent from 105,000 to 82,300 over the past decade, with Mr Rawnsley citing the automation of administrative functions through smartphones and apps for the fall.

Travel agents experienced a 35 per cent fall, dropping by 9400 to 17,600, with their numbers impacted by the growth of online travel websites.

Growth in the number of fitness instructors was 32.8 per cent, jumping by 9700 to 39,300, while the number of nutritional professionals increased by 50 per cent to 8400.

An additional 24,700 psychologists, 12,800 audiologists and speech pathologists and 8700 counsellors entered the workforce over the decade.

“Australians are increasingly prioritising their personal wellbeing and are willing to employ professionals to support them,” Mr Rawnsley said. ”Similarly, a deeper awareness of mental health has led to more demand for psychologists and counsellors.”