These are the top STEM fields that are set to see jobs growth in Australia
There are a few career paths that have a lot of opportunities emerging in coming years.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the total number of workers in the country will increase by 14.2% – but not all jobs are growing equally.
So if job security is important to you, but you’re not too sure what you want to do, check out our list of STEM areas that are set to boom.
#1 Healthcare and social assistance
Healthcare by far is the fastest growing industry in Australia, and will continue to be for the next ten years.
Healthcare is super varied; you can work on anything from general care to specific body parts (eyes, knees, heart, etc.) or overall population health.
Some of the top growing jobs include:
- Osteopaths
- Dental practitioners
- Podiatrists
- Physiotherapists
- Health therapy professionals
For some inspiration on careers to pursue in the industry, check out our Careers with STEM: Health issue.
#2 Mining
Mining comes in second for growth in jobs, with many minerals still being mined in Australia that are required for the net zero transition.
You can be working in some pretty amazing places around Australia.
Jobs include:
- Mining engineers
- Mine surveyors
- Mechanical fitters
- Metallurgists
Mining role model: Breanna Cameron
At high school, when it came to STEM, Breanna favoured maths. So much so that she enjoyed helping her mates out when they were stuck – something she still does in her next-gen mining gig.
#3 Professional, scientific and technical services
This is a really broad group of jobs, capturing subjects like physics, biology, maths, chemistry and more! For many of these roles a university degree is needed, but for some vocational education and training is sufficient.
You could be working out in the field as a geologist or even in labs trying to help find a cure for cancer.
You could choose to become a:
- Medical laboratory scientist
- Chemical and materials engineer
- Industrial, mechanical and production engineer
- Geologist, geophysicist or hydrologist
- Electronics engineer
Check out our Careers with STEM: Science issue for ideas on what to pursue!
#4 Manufacturing
As you’re reading this article, there are many things around you that have been manufactured by other people – including the device you’re reading this on!
There is a lot of variation in manufacturing, and you can be working as a:
- Production manager
- Metal engineering process worker
- Safety inspector
- Electrical engineer
- Wood trades worker
Manufacturing role model: Ahmed Naufal
Ahmed is shaking up the way we make things. As a process engineer, Ahmed has found himself in some awesome places, like the massive greenhouses at Sundrop Farms that produce tomatoes for Coles!
#5 Information media and telecommunications
IT and media are large industries in Australia, both absolutely necessary in the digital age.
Some of the jobs that are set to boom include:
- Information and organisation professionals
- Telecommunications engineering professionals
- ICT and telecommunications technicians
- Electronics and telecommunications trade workers
- Cross-media professionals
To find some more ideas on jobs to chase, check out our latest Careers with STEM: Technology issue.
Related:
- Girls! Engineering jobs pay more for grads so why not get on board?
- STEM jobs working with trees
- Three awesome STEM jobs and how to get them
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