Nursing, aged care jobs: Top 20 most in demand roles right now

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the jobs market and pushed up unemployment. But some workers are more in demand.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live and upended the jobs market.

Not only has it drastically increased unemployment, the virus has also shifted the sectors where workers are most in demand.

Comparing figures from February 2020, the latest data from SEEK revealed that job ads in warehouse, storage and distribution have gone from sixth to second place thanks to the rise in online shopping during lockdown. Hiring demand for roles in aged care and disability support also rose five positions to third place. Nursing, however, continued to be the most in-demand job.

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It’s unsurprising that nurses across all specialties are in high demand due to the global health crisis. Picture: iStock.

Speaking to news.com.au, SEEK’s National Healthcare Manager James Duncan, said that compared to the 23 per cent decline in hiring demand across all industries, the healthcare industry only dropped 7 per cent.

While nurses were already an in-demand job prior to the pandemic, healthcare roles in aged care and disability support, psychology, counselling, social work and dental also featured on the list.

“I think the healthcare industry will continue to grow as it supplies people with three of the essential elements in talent attraction: salary, career development and job security,” he said.

“Job security might be the most important element in the current COVID environment and the healthcare industry supplies this in spades.

“A big part of the industry is public health and most of the industry outside of that receives some sort of government funding. This means job security is high, which is especially in demand during uncertain times.”

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Psychologists, counsellors and aged care and disability support workers also made the list. Picture: iStock.

Meanwhile, Australia’s switch to online retail during lockdown has accounted for the rise in warehouse, storage and distribution jobs.

A report released by Australia Post in June showed e-commerce was up more than 80 per cent during the first eight weeks of the pandemic. More than 200,000 new online shoppers also entered the market, driving sales and increasing the need for logistic support.

Child welfare, youth and family services had biggest leap in demand, rising to 17th place (from 39th) and plant and machinery operators are now the 18th most in-demand job, increasing by 20 positions.

Developers and business and system analysts recorded the biggest drop in demand reporting a fall of seven and eight spots respectively.

AUSTRALIA’S 20 MOST NEEDED JOBS

1. Nursing – all roles (no change in rank)

2. Warehouse, storage and distribution (previously sixth)

3. Aged care and disability support (previously eighth)

4. Automotive trades (previously seventh)

5. Administrative assistants (previously second)

6. Sales representatives / consultants (previously third)

7. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation (previously ninth)

8. Childcare and outside school hours care (previously 12th)

9. Chefs / cooks (previously fifth)

10. Retail assistants (no change in rank)

11. Developers / programmers (previously fourth)

12. Mining – engineering and maintenance (previously 14th)

13. Labourers (previously 15th)

14. Road transport (previously 26th)

15. Psychology, counselling and social work (previously 24th)

16. Dental (previously 33rd)

17. Child welfare, youth and family services (previously 39th)

18. Plant and machinery operators (previously 38th)

19. Business / system analysts (previously 11th)

20. Mining – operations (previously 12th)

Currently Australia’s effective unemployment rate for July stands at 9.9 per cent, with Treasury forecasts estimating it could rise to 13 per cent in August and September.

NSW is leading the nation’s jobs growth with 315,000 jobs created in the past two months with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg reporting a total of 340,000 new jobs created nationally.

This article was created in partnership with SEEK.

Originally published as Nursing, aged care jobs: Top 20 most in demand roles right now