Careers Office

From the Careers Office: update from the latest Australian employment data

The latest Australian Jobs 2026 report released by Jobs and Skills Australia provides a valuable snapshot of where Australia’s labour market is heading and what this means for students making decisions today.

More than 90% of employment growth over the decade to 2035 is expected to require post-school training or study. 40% of advertised jobs now require a bachelor’s degree or higher.

School subjects are one way to explore careers, but they don’t tell the whole story. When students first understand who they are, what matters to them, what they’re naturally good at and the strengths they bring, including hobbies and interests, they can explore careers that are a genuinely good “fit” for them intellectually and personally.

The report also highlights the importance employers place on personal attributes. At interview, 49% of employers identified a candidate’s approach and attitude to work as important, while 43% pointed to cultural fit and personality. This makes helping students recognise and articulate their strengths increasingly important not only for choosing a career, but eventually for getting the job. A candidate’s enthusiasm and passion are always remembered long after their specific ATAR or academic results have been forgotten by the employer.

Growth is particularly strong in Health Care and Social Assistance, with Education and Training, Construction, and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services also expanding. At the same time, AI is expected to change how many jobs are performed rather than simply replace them, increasing the value of human capabilities such as judgement, communication and creative problem-solving.

Perhaps the most important message is that careers are becoming less linear. Students are likely to move between occupations, industries and further education throughout their lives. Helping them understand and develop their transferable strengths and capabilities will therefore be more valuable than trying to narrow the focus onto one lifelong profession.

With thanks to MyCareerMatch