Australia’s 2024 Occupation Shortage Analysis

Overview

Australia continues to face persistent skill shortages across healthcare, education, engineering, and trade sectors, with regional areas being more severely impacted.

1. Top Occupations in Persistent Shortage

• Healthcare & Social Services:

Registered Nurses

Physiotherapists

Social Workers

Occupational Therapists

• Education:

Early Childhood Teachers

Secondary School Teachers

• Skilled Trades:

Electricians

Metal Fitters and Machinists

• Technical & Engineering:

Civil Engineers

Software Engineers & IT Professionals

2. Regional Challenges and Key Trends

• Regional Shortages:

Employers struggle with recruitment in remote areas, as many candidates decline job offers due to location issues.

• Training Gaps:

Healthcare roles require longer training, delaying the filling of positions.

Short-term training for roles like retail managers still faces low applicant numbers.

• Retention Issues:

High job mobility in childcare and human resource sectors leads to frequent vacancies. Improved work conditions and career pathways are essential for retention.