Released today by the Australian Industry Group, the report found the next half-decade will bring a net creation of 78 million jobs.
As we inch towards a new decade, it’s predicted there will be a huge shift in what skills are highly-valued – and with it, many careers may become redundant.
The report found that, between 2025 and 2030, there will be a net growth of 7 per cent in total employment in Australia.
Jobs which may see the most growth will include frontline roles such as farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, salespersons, and food processing workers.
Those employed in the “care economy” will also see a boom in demand, such as aged care workers, social workers, nurses and school teachers.
The AI Group’s report predicts technology-related jobs will be the fastest-growing percentage-wise.
Soft skills on the rise as Australia’s 15 fastest-growing jobs revealed
These jobs will be data specialists, AI specialists, software engineers and fintech engineers.
There’s also likely to be a spike in demand for electric vehicle specialists, renewable energy engineers and environmental engineers.
Meanwhile, there’s the career paths less and less Australians are expected to pursue.
The report predicts clerical and secretarial workers will have the largest decline in numbers.
With this major job economy transformation will come “skill instability”, the report found.
Workers can expect to see 39 per cent of their existing skill sets transformed or become outdated in the next five years.
Around 85 per cent of employers will prioritise upskilling their workforce during this period, the report noted.
As for employers, the most highly sought-after skill in the workforce is set to be analytical thinking.
This will become hugely valuable in a workforce where Artificial Intelligence is used widely.
Innes Willox, chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, said the report could be seen as a grim prediction of Australia’s job market if the country doesn’t effectively plan for this mammoth shift.
“It demonstrates the importance of building the capability and size of Australia’s workforce now and over the coming years,” Willox said,
“63 per cent of employers globally said skill gaps are the biggest barrier to business transformation.
“While they are making considerable effort to diversify, upskill and support their workforces, this must be complemented by effective public jobs.”
The AI Group surveyed 1000 people employers, who represent 14 million works across 22 industries, to create the report, alongside the World Economic Forum (WEF).