Industries with the most jobs available in South Australia and how to get them

It’s now easier to get a job in South Australia despite competition increasing. See what the average salary is and what’s on offer.

There are more than 9000 jobs crying out for workers in South Australia right now, and experts say this is the best time to apply.

Exclusive data from employment marketplace SEEK reveals it is now easier to get a job in 20 out of 28 national sectors than it was before the pandemic.

Between December 2020 and February 2021, the average hospitality and tourism role attracted 50 per cent fewer applicants than a year earlier.

Applicant-to-job ad ratios were also down 43 per cent in trades and services, 39 per cent in manufacturing, transport and logistics, and 34 per cent in sports and recreation.

Competition has heated up, however, in sectors including legal (up 50 per cent), accounting (up 14 per cent) and insurance and superannuation (up 11 per cent).

Competition for jobs has relaxed in many sectors. Picture: Thinkstock

SEEK employment analyst Leigh Broderick said a number of factors contributed to some industries recording lower applicant ratios, but it was mainly a result of growing job listings as businesses rehired for roles lost during last year’s lockdowns.

The job site’s latest employment report revealed every state and territory was experiencing year-on-year job ad growth for the first time since the pandemic began.

Tasmania’s listings were up 40 per cent in February 2021 compared to February 2020, followed by South Australia (up 37 per cent), The Northern Territory (36 per cent), Western Australia (up 24 per cent), Queensland (up 23 per cent), Victoria (up7 per cent), the ACT (5 per cent), and New South Wales (up 4 per cent).

There are about 9000 SA-based jobs listed on SEEK right now, including 1450 in trades and services, 1000 in healthcare and medical and 860 in manufacturing, transport and logistics.

SEEK’s Leigh Broderick said people in work were reluctant to change jobs. Picture: Supplied

Mr Broderick said there were also fewer applications coming from people who already had a job.

“Candidates are a bit more reluctant to jump ship into a new role,” he said.

“They think ‘if I move jobs and something happens, I will be the last person on the boat so the first person out the door’.

“Anecdotally, we hear from a lot of hirers that they are struggling to find good people.

“We are not saying there is no competition but certainly there are opportunities out there – definitely.”

Market research company Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said Australia’s current job market was “as good as it’s going to get for the next little while” as people who had stepped out of the workforce were beginning to want to work again.

“If you are looking for a job, start looking now and start looking hard,” she said.

“In our last release, we saw the number of people employed going up and the number of people unemployed and looking for work also going up.

“This is saying people are now getting up and starting to look for work.”

Roy Morgan’s Michele Levine said there would soon be more people looking for work. Picture: Supplied

Roy Morgan reported more than 12.7 million Australians were employed in February – the highest volume since early March, 2020.

Meanwhile, 1.93 million Australians were unemployed, up 250,000 from January.

Ms Levine advised anyone who was currently out of work and wanting a job to “do whatever it takes” to find some form of employment.

“Get a job, get on the ladder, get in there and be valuable to your employer,” she said.

HIRING NOW IN SA

Clarence Gardens’ Luke Charlton landed his electrical apprenticeship with NECA Careers and Apprenticeships last year, in the middle of the pandemic.

These days, NCA is placing three to four South Australians into apprenticeships every month.

Charlton, who deferred a sports management degree to take the trade route, said he was happy with his choice and enjoying the variety of work with host employer Rawsons Electrical.

“Once you’ve got a trade you have always got it behind you,” the 20-year-old said.

“At uni, you study and get a degree but it’s luck to get a job.

“Out of the trades, I chose electrical because it was a bit more challenging, mathematically.

“I always enjoyed maths at school and having to think about things with numbers and problem solving.”

Luke Charlton is a first year electrical apprentice employed by NECA Careers and Apprenticeships and hosted by Rawsons Electrical. Picture: Keryn Stevens

NECA SA executive director Larry Moore said electricians would be essential in delivering a construction-led economic recovery following the pandemic.

He said host employers were looking for people who were talented, hardworking and committed to their long-term participation in the electro-technology industry.

“Electrical work is very hands on, but does require a lot of thinking and problem solving using sophisticated equipment in integrated systems that encompasses both electrical and IT solutions,” he said.

“We also look for people who work well with others, are critical thinkers and want to be in a hi-tech and quickly evolving industry.”

RESUME TIPS

1 Go for substance over style

Flashy formatting and in-your-face design can detract.

Go for simplicity and ease of reading, and avoid jargonistic language.

What matters the most is the substance of what you are saying about yourself.

2 Articulate your value

At the beginning of your CV, have a summary statement outlining your core capabilities, skills and the value you deliver.

Think of this as your “unique selling proposition”.

This is your opportunity to sell yourself and why they should hire you.

3 Little things matter

Your CV won’t get past the first hurdle if you have spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Get a trusted (and skilled) friend or colleague to proof read your CV.

4 Be targeted and tailored

Customise your CV for each job you apply for.

Be specific and emphasise what you have delivered and the results you have achieved in your roles, rather than just listing role responsibilities.

For example, writing “managed sales activities” is far less effective than saying “delivered increased sales by 15 per cent each quarter for the last 12 months”.

5 Leverage LinkedIn

Most recruiters will validate your CV by looking at your LinkedIn profile.

Add to your credibility with endorsements and, more importantly, recommendations and any awards or special achievements.

SOURCE: Workplace expert and author of Career Leap: How to Reinvent and Liberate your Career Michelle Gibbings

BEFORE A JOB INTERVIEW

1 DO YOUR RESEARCH

On the industry – recent developments, trends, changes

On the company – its history, products/services, values, purpose, customers, culture

On the hiring manager – who they are, their role, expertise, past experience

On the role – what it involves, previous work the team has completed

2 PRACTICE HOW YOU WILL INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Explain your education and professional background

For example, “I am a business management graduate with a master’s in digital marketing. Since leaving university, I have enjoyed a two-year marketing career within the sports industry.”

Discuss relevant skills and expertise

For example, “During this time, I have been able to apply what I learnt during my master’s, while building upon my digital marketing expertise even further. I believe that my digital marketing skills are best showcased by an email marketing campaign I recently led, which increased our conversion rate by 10 per cent.”

Describe what you are looking for

For example, “My previous organisation has helped me develop the digital skills I have today, however, I believe that for the sake of progressing my expertise further, it’s time to move on. I’m looking for a more challenging role within a fast-paced global organisation, where there is plenty of room for me to grow as a marketing professional; hence I was so pleased to be invited to interview for this role.”

3 PREPARE ANSWERS FOR COMMON QUESTIONS

“Why are you looking to leave your current job?”

DON’T focus on what you dislike about your current role or organisation.

DO focus on the opportunities you see in the position you have applied for.

“Why should I hire you?”

DO think about what benefits you will bring to the company if they take you on, rather than someone else.

DO identify three skills or experiences, including technical skills mentioned in the job description and ‘soft skills’ such as communication and the ability to work in a team.

DON’T disengage the interviewer with an overly long and poorly structured response.

“Tell me about a time you failed?

DO choose a genuine example of where you made an oversight or error in judgment.

DO show you have learnt from the situation.

DON’T make excuses or blame others.

4 PLAN QUESTIONS TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER

Good examples include:

Is this a new role? If not, how has it evolved?

Is there scope for career progression?

What does success look like in this job?

How does the team fit into the overall structure of the company?

What constitutes success for the team?

From your perspective, what’s it like to work here?

What is your management style?

What training opportunities are available?

What are the main challenges and opportunities the business faces?

How does your organisation live its purpose?

SOURCE: Hays Interview Guide

Originally published as Industries with the most jobs available in South Australia and how to get them