Unemployment in Australia reached its peak in July when it hit 7.5%. Although this dropped slightly at the end of summer, towards the end of the year, it started to rise again. However, there is a range of industries and jobs that are still in demand, despite the pandemic. In this post, we’re talking about where you can look for jobs in 2021 and which industries have, and roles have opportunities this year.
Which industries are still hiring, and where are all the jobs this year?
While many sectors are facing job cuts and have paused their hiring activities, there are many which have adapted, and for those who are able to employ people remotely, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had.
Call Centres
Contact Centre roles are forecast to grow as we see many overseas call centers moving their operations and jobs back home to Australia. This is, in most parts, is due to the pandemic. Two companies of note are Telstra and Westpac, both of which decided to bring their call center divisions back after their overseas operations were heavily impacted by restrictions caused by COVID-19. In 2021 alone, there are approximately 10,000 jobs being created in this sector alone. As more in-person interactions are moved online, there is a greater need to be able to serve customers over the phone; and call center roles are being created to meet this growing demand.
Labour Work
Labourers are another hot ‘commodity’ this year. While this sector will usually slow down throughout the summer months, 2021 is set to be a different story altogether. With a healthy mining sector and additional demand coming from both federal and state home-building grants, companies are taking a proactive approach in their hiring activities to try and avoid a skills shortage with the expected increase in demand for labourers this year.
According to the National Skills Commission, despite the pandemic, recruitment for labourers in 2020 was the strongest of all sectors. With advertisements for labourers up by over 130% nationally and no signs of slowing down in 2021, this is one of the best industries to be looking for jobs right now.
Information Security
The cybersecurity sector is booming. As the world adapted to remote working and more businesses moved online, the need for greater data security exploded. More businesses underwent digital transformations, and even more will in 2021; with a bigger demand for mobilised teams, more cybersecurity consultants will be required across all sectors. This trend is set to continue for many years to come.
Digital Marketing
In a similar theme to the above section, there has been a huge shift to online business as a direct result of the pandemic. Another sector that is set to grow even bigger in 2021 is digital marketing. From copywriters, SEO consultants, social media managers, and content marketing specialists, there are plenty of opportunities to work in digital marketing this year.
Health Sector and Care
The sheer resilience of the healthcare sector makes it another area with growing opportunities for the foreseeable future. The nursing sector is facing shortages this year, and the aged care sector is struggling to get the staff they need to care for patients across the country. Jobs in the care sector are, of course, quicker to qualify for, but for those who genuinely enjoy caring and want to make a real difference with the work they do for others, jobs in either of these sectors can be incredibly rewarding.
National Skills Commission – Emerging Occupations for 2021
Aside from the above, there are other sectors that have been identified by the NSC as industries that are going to be hiring this year.
Sustainability Sector
Wind Turbine Engineers, Solar Installation Engineers, Hazardous Materials Workers, Energy Efficiency Technicians
Information Analytics
Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Data Architects, Data Analysts
Regulatory Workers
Energy Auditors, Risk Analysts, Regulatory Affairs Specialists
In Summary
One thing we learned from 2020 is that you never predict what will happen, and regardless of whether you have experience, tenure, or have just recently graduated from University, the job market is always going to present a unique set of challenges. In 2021, there are many diverse sectors that are growing, and with that growth comes opportunities for employment.
If you have transferrable skills, or a genuine desire to shift your career path, there has never been a better time to do this. With more people than ever now evaluating their career choices, stepping into a new role or industry is nothing to fear. In fact, more people than ever are expected to pivot into new roles and sectors; it certainly is set to be another memorable year for many reasons.
If you’re looking for work right now, then stay open to the opportunities that are out there, and be prepared to pivot to find jobs in the sectors that are hiring.