There will be abundant opportunities for those with a range of skills and experience, and a love of lifelong learning will be an essential character trait in terms of people adapting to the workforce of the future. According to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise in 2021 report, here are some of the high demand jobs.

#1 – Mental Health Specialists

Several community services roles are currently some of the most in-demand in Australia. This includes the area of mental health, which was boosted by the government’s significant financial investment in the sector in 2020. The sector incorporates a range of roles and covers all stages of life, from children and adolescents to older Australians.

Mental health specialists can include practitioners, social workers, counsellors and psychologists who deal with vulnerable people who may be experiencing poverty, discrimination, addiction, illness, domestic and family violence, mental health issues or other forms of hardship.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs in the counselling sector is expected to be over 14.2 per cent by 2026.

#2 – Healthcare/Medical Support Workers

Other high demand jobs in the healthcare sector include support worker and case management roles. Workers in these jobs typically help people access a range of care, from support at home and physical therapy to delivering assistance and services to clients. Roles also cover a range of sectors from community and aged care to homelessness support services.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for aged and disabled carers is expected to be over 28 per cent by 2026.

#3- Customer Service Workers

With the advent of COVID-19, many customer service workers were asked to respond and navigate through significant disruption. From tourism to hospitality, they needed to re-purpose their communication and interpersonal skills to understand complaints and changing customer needs.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for those in the retail trade is expected to be over 4.1 per cent by 2026.

#4 – E-commerce Professionals

The retail sector is one of Australia’s largest employers. And despite the significant challenges that affected “bricks and mortar” businesses due to COVID-19, it’s not surprising that the area of E-commerce is booming.

According to an article in the Australian Financial Review in May, the growth rate of online sales was almost 30 per cent in 2018. During the 2020 lockdowns, this surged to over 60 per cent. High demand jobs are abundant for E-commerce professionals, but online business owners can also reap the benefits of this burgeoning retail platform.

Fast fact: According to Statista, while online sales accounted for 18 per cent of global retail sales in 2020, that share is projected to climb to over 21 per cent in 2024.

#5 – Digital Content Writers

Content is truly king in this digital age, and according to LinkedIn, its demand is increasingly high. In 2020, it observed a sharp increase in organisations’ posts, making bloggers, copywriters, freelance writers and podcasters some of the latest high-demand jobs.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for journalists and other writers is expected to be over 7.1 per cent by 2026.

#6 – Education Roles

Tasked with preparing children for primary school, those working in early childhood education prepare materials and equipment for children’s education and recreational activities. They also support their emotional, physical and social development, playing a crucial role in giving Australia’s youngest generation quality learning experiences.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for child carers is expected to be over 5.9 per cent by 2026.

#7 – Finance Professionals

Australia has a sophisticated financial services sector, which is one of the most significant contributors to the national economy. Another one of the high demand jobs in the current employment market is those of finance professionals, including accountants and bookkeepers.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for accountants is expected to be over 9.2 per cent by 2026.

#8 – Digital Marketing Specialists

The ability to communicate with customers using digital marketing, including social media, has become even more important in this Information Age as many brands face significant disruption to their usual customer engagement.

Fast fact: According to LinkedIn, half of the top ten jobs posted on their site are in the media or digital space. 

#9 – Recruitment Professionals  

With many companies freezing hiring the past year due to uncertainties, recruiters have had to re-evaluate their recruitment strategies. One trend that has emerged is recruitment consultants pivoting to a role as a “career development specialist”, focusing on not just recruiting but helping people find new roles and careers.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of jobs for HR professionals is expected to be over 13.1 per cent by 2026.

#10 – ICT Managers

The Information Technology sector is continuing to grow at a rapid rate and is arguably one of the most valuable future-proof industries. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Managers typically manage the acquisition, development, maintenance and use of computer and telecommunications systems within organisations.

Fast fact: According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Insights, the future growth of ICT managers’ jobs is expected to be over 17.7 per cent by 2026.

#11 – Cyber Security Specialists

The cyber security sector is growing fast, and according to the Government’s own Cyber Security Strategy, Australia is suffering from a cyber security skills shortage. People in cyber security roles offer a range of services from developing software to minimising viruses, hackers and phishing.

Fast fact: Over the 2020-21 financial year, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received over 67,500 cybercrime reports, an increase of nearly 13 per cent from the previous financial year.