Employment Projections - Outlook by occupation

Changes in employment in each occupation can reflect the changing way that work is structured within each industry and businesses across Australia.  

The increasing importance of employment in occupation groups of Professionals and Managers is projected to continue over the next decade. Currently, these two occupation groups account for 39.6% of total employment in Australia and this employment share is projected to increase to 41.7% by May 2035. 

While Technicians and Trades Workers (the second largest occupation major group) is projected to increase by 195,800 (9.8%) in the next decade, this is less than the projected increase in total employment. As a result, their share of the workforce is projected to all slightly (from 13.6% in May 2025 to 13.1% in May 2035).

The occupation major groups projected to experience the highest employment growth over the next 5 and 10 years include:

• Professionals (projected to grow by 456,900 persons or 11.6% to 2030 and by 845,300 persons or 21.4% to 2035). The occupations that are projected to have the strongest employment growth over the decade are mostly those in the health therapy area, with Physiotherapists (rising 33.6%) the most significant.
• Managers (projected to grow by 143,400 persons or 7.7% to 2030 and by 279,600 people or 14.9% to 2035). The occupations that are projected to have the strongest employment growth over the decade are: Health and Welfare Services Managers (27.1%), ICT Managers (25.5%) and Research and Development Managers (22.8%).
• Community and Personal Service Workers (projected to grow by 122,000 persons or 7.1% to 2030 and by 236,100 people or 13.7% to 2035). The fastest growth is projected in occur in Dental Assistants (26.%), Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers (24.7%) and Ambulance Officers and Paramedics (22.6%). 

Occupations with weak or negative projected employment growth are more often found in the groups of Clerical and Administrative Workers and Labourers. Many of these occupations serve as important entry points into the labour market, particularly for lower skilled workers.