In Australia’s labour market, multiple trends are unfolding simultaneously, but the services sector remains the primary driver of growth. Health care and social assistance continue to be the nation’s largest and fastest‑growing employers, highlighting how much industry and location now influence employment opportunities. Encouragingly, there are signs of improvement, with SEEK job postings in January rising which is a welcome change.
Here’s an overview of what’s happening across key sectors:
- Health care and social assistance: Strong demand for nurses, allied health, aged care and disability support workers.
- Education and training: Ongoing growth in teachers, early childhood educators and VET trainers, especially in fast‑growing suburbs and regions.
- Professional, scientific and technical services: Solid demand in consulting, engineering, legal, accounting and ICT, but hiring is more selective and often project‑based.
- Construction and infrastructure: Public infrastructure, housing and defence programs are keeping most trades and project roles busy.
- Retail, hospitality, tourism and logistics: Gradual recovery is supporting customer‑facing, warehousing, transport and supply‑chain roles, though hours can be variable and competition strong.
- Technology and digital: The market has cooled from its peak, but cyber, data, cloud and AI skills remain in demand.
Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia are seeing relatively stronger demand off the back of resources, defence and major projects, while New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT are experiencing softer job ad volumes and more measured corporate hiring.
Job types and roles: why skills matter most
In this environment, your skills and job type matter as much as your industry. Full‑time roles are still the backbone for many employers, but contract and project‑based work are key where there’s change or uncertainty. The people standing out are those who combine strong human skills (communication, problem‑solving, empathy) with real digital capability. Instead of asking, “What job title should I chase?”, ask, “Which of my skills align with the roles and sectors that are still growing?”
Practical next steps to navigate 2026
To make this market work for you, keep your approach simple and deliberate by trying some of the following approaches;
Audit your skills: List your core technical, interpersonal and problem‑solving strengths and match at least three of them to growth areas such as cyber, health or data. Be honest about gaps and pick one or two areas to upskill through short courses, stretch projects or mentoring.
Think beyond one postcode: If you can, explore roles in states or regions where your field is busier. Even if you stay local, highlight experience across different sites or projects, employers value that flexibility.
Be intentional with networking: Swap scatter‑gun applications for targeted conversations with hiring managers, recruiters and peers about where demand is shifting.
Stay close to labour market signals: Check a few trusted data sources or updates each month to guide your timing and focus. Notice which roles and skills keep popping up – that repetition is a clue.
Reflect before you move: Jot down one role or role family that genuinely interests you in today’s market and ask, “What one step could I take in the next three months to move closer to this?”
Australia’s 2026 labour market is still full of opportunity for people who understand their value and stay open to how and where they apply it. You don’t need to have everything figured out—just a clear, considered next step. As someone passionate about the evolving world of work, I love helping people and organisations navigate these shifts with practical, people‑first strategies. If this resonates, connect with me on LinkedIn for more insights into Australia’s labour market and HR trends in 2026.