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Writer's pictureAlison Wong

Top 20 Most Popular Australian Skilled Migration Occupations for 2024

1. Introduction: Demand for Skilled Migration in Australia and Visa Options 

With the rapid advancement of technology and globalization, Australia’s labor market faces a growing shortage of skilled talent, especially in key industries like healthcare, information technology, engineering, and construction. To address this challenge, the Australian government has been actively working to attract highly skilled immigrants from around the world by offering various skilled migration visa options to fill workforce gaps and boost economic growth. For skilled professionals considering migration to Australia, the "2024 Skills Shortage List" is a valuable reference to understand which occupations are in high demand, helping them make more targeted migration plans.


  • Skilled Visa Categories: To make skilled migration more targeted, the Australian government offers a range of visa options, with the "189 Skilled Independent Visa" and the "190 Skilled Nominated Visa" being particularly popular among applicants. The primary difference between these two visas lies in their nomination and independence requirements.

    • 189 Skilled Independent Visa: The 189 visa is an independent skilled visa that does not require state government nomination, suitable for highly skilled applicants who wish to migrate independently. Holders of this visa are not restricted to specific regions and can freely choose where to live and work in Australia. The main advantage of this visa category is that applicants qualify based entirely on their skills and experience points without needing state or territory nomination. Therefore, the 189 visa is ideal for those who prefer to live anywhere in Australia and enjoy greater flexibility.

    • 190 Skilled Nominated Visa: The 190 visa requires nomination by a state or territory government, meaning applicants must possess skills in demand in a particular state. Compared to the 189 visa, the 190 visa has more specific regional requirements. Successful applicants must commit to living in the nominating state or territory for at least two years to fulfill local skill demands. While the 190 visa is less flexible in terms of location, state government nomination gives applicants higher processing priority, which is an important advantage for skilled professionals looking for faster visa approval.


      2. Detailed Overview of Australia’s Top 20 In-Demand Occupations for 2024

    Below is a look at the 20 most in-demand occupations in Australia for 2024:

    1. Aged or Disabled Carer

    2. Primary School Teacher

    3. Secondary School Teacher

    4. Truck Driver

    5. Electrician

    6. Childcare Worker

    7. Sales and Marketing Manager

    8. Carpenter

    9. Chef

    10. Motor Mechanic

    11. Lawyer

    12. Fitter

    13. Construction Project Manager

    14. Software Engineer

    15. Hairdresser

    16. General Practitioner

    17. Project Builder

    18. Programmer

    19. Metal Fabricator

    20. Personal Care Assistant


The list above reveals that the top 20 in-demand occupations comprise about 20.3% of Australia’s workforce, highlighting the importance of these roles in the job market. Among these roles, the top five occupations alone account for 8.9% of total employment, involving over 80,000 workers. This emphasizes that these core occupations play an essential role in sustaining societal operations and economic growth.

Additionally, data shows that most shortage occupations have remained in short supply for at least three consecutive years. Various announcements and reports indicate that the demand for these roles has not diminished over time but instead continues to rise, aligning closely with the skill shortage lists published by each state. These lists typically reflect the priority needs of each state for technical talent, making it important for applicants to pay attention.

Source: Data from the Department of Jobs and Skills Australia (October 2024) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)


3. In-Depth Analysis of Major In-Demand Industries


Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector:

  • Reason for Demand: As Australia’s population ages, particularly in high-growth regions like Queensland, healthcare needs are steadily rising. The increase in the elderly population leads to greater healthcare demand, posing significant challenges for the healthcare and social assistance sector, with a growing shortage of medical resources. Many healthcare facilities are expanding rapidly to meet this demand.

  • In-Demand Positions: General Practitioner, Aged Care, Disability Care, Personal Care

  • Industry Trends: Some state governments, including Queensland, are investing in healthcare and social assistance infrastructure and offering free TAFE courses in healthcare to prepare for the long-term impacts of an aging population.


Education and Training Sector:

  • Reason for Demand: With growing investments by Australian families in education and rapid expansion of demand for new courses like language and technology, professional educators have become scarce. These educators not only play a role in teaching but also act as bridges for cultural and language integration. As the number of immigrants in Australia rises, the education sector is vigorously promoting multilingual and multicultural education, which not only meets societal needs but also helps new immigrant families integrate into local communities.

  • In-Demand Positions: Secondary School Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, Special Education Teachers, which are consistently needed in Australia’s multicultural society.

  • Industry Trends: With increasing immigration, language and cultural diversity trends mean that the education sector also needs to enhance its demand for multilingual talent.


Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Sector:

  • Reason for Demand: The global digital transformation trend has led to a surge in demand for IT, data, and scientific talent, and Australia is no exception. As digital needs grow across industries, there is an undersupply of professionals like data scientists, software developers, and ICT security specialists.

  • In-Demand Positions: Software Engineers, Programmers, and other high-tech roles

  • Industry Trends: Australian universities are increasingly offering related courses and certifications to improve local technical talent quality. These measures not only satisfy industry needs but also attract skilled immigrants globally to alleviate shortages. The growth of the professional and technical services sector is poised to be a key driver of Australia’s future economic development, offering promising prospects.

Construction and Engineering Sector:

  • Reason for Demand: With population growth driving up housing demand, the construction and infrastructure sectors need to accelerate to meet market needs. Critical shortage roles in this sector include structural steel workers, construction managers, and civil engineers—core pillars of infrastructure projects. To address this, the Australian government is gradually loosening skilled migration restrictions, attracting more professionals to this sector to expedite infrastructure and housing projects.

  • In-Demand Positions: Including Electricians, Carpenters, Fitters, Construction Project Managers, which are vital to infrastructure projects

  • Industry Trends: Over the next few years, as demand in the real estate market continues, this sector is expected to maintain strong growth, becoming an essential pillar of the Australian economy. As the construction and engineering industry develops, more technical talent will be drawn to Australia, supporting economic growth and infrastructure development.


4. Analysis of Australian Skilled Migration Policies

Policy Background: With the rapid growth of Australia’s economy and infrastructure, many industries face challenges with workforce shortages. To address this, the Australian government has actively promoted skilled migration programs in recent years to fill talent gaps in key sectors such as healthcare, education, construction, and IT. These programs help resolve labor shortages and lay a solid foundation for Australia’s long-term economic development. For highly skilled professionals seeking long-term residency, these programs offer invaluable migration opportunities.

The application process for Australia’s skilled migration policies primarily includes the "189 Skilled Independent Visa" and the "190 Skilled Nominated Visa":

  • 189 Skilled Independent Visa: This visa is for applicants with in-demand skills. Applicants must first undergo a qualification assessment to confirm that their occupation is on the Australian government’s shortage occupation list. After passing the assessment, they must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and obtain a high score on the points system to receive an invitation to apply. The application process requires documents like passports, educational qualifications, and work experience, ensuring a transparent and standardized process suitable for skilled talent planning long-term residence.

  • 190 Skilled Nominated Visa: This visa requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government and is intended for professionals with skills in demand in specific regions. The application process is similar to that for the 189 visa but requires state or territory nomination. Applicants must undergo the same occupational assessment, submit an EOI, and receive an invitation from the state or territory government. Due to varying needs across regions, this visa has a higher chance of approval, especially for those willing to work in specific states or regions.


Advantages of Migration Policies: The skilled migration policy not only simplifies the application process but also offers significant benefits. Firstly, applicants can enjoy priority processing, which shortens the waiting time; secondly, skilled migration allows applicants to include their family members in the application, enabling them to share in the permanent residency benefits of Australia. Moreover, once the skilled migration application is successful, the applicant and their family members can enjoy the same healthcare, education, and employment rights as local residents. These advantages undoubtedly attract a large number of applicants with technical expertise, making Australia one of the preferred migration destinations for skilled talent globally.


5. Conclusion: Don’t Miss the Migration Opportunity

The Australian skilled migration occupation list provides valuable reference points for skilled individuals, helping them understand and seize migration opportunities. The list clarifies the demand trends across various industries in Australia, allowing applicants to choose their application direction strategically. Whether in healthcare, education, or IT, there are corresponding migration opportunities, and skilled individuals can select the most suitable migration pathway based on their expertise.

Migration opportunities are fleeting, so for those interested, taking action as soon as possible is crucial. We invite interested readers to contact the Changmei Consulting Team for more detailed information on the specific processes and requirements, so they can embark on the path to successful migration to Australia sooner. The Changmei Consulting Team will assist you from assessment to application, helping you realize your dream of migrating to Australia and starting a new chapter in the beautiful country.



 
Alison’s Story

Born in Hong Kong an moved to Australia, I have been associated with real estate all my life. As the plane slowly landed on the runway of Melbourne Airport, my life and career also changed to another runway. I changed from a Hong Kong real estate agent to an Australian real estate agent, and successfully obtained the Australian lawyer qualification.


When I was working in a law firm, I was surrounded by highly educated professionals. Even though their wages are very well, and they are absolutely the elites in society, but their lives are full of hard labor, and it’s hard for them to get rich through buying properties.


So I spend all my time and effort on learning financial and real estate investment knowledge, hoping to achieve financial freedom as soon as possible, and let my parents who have worked hard for many years live a good life.


Now I will share with you the knowledge and experience of investing in Australian real estate, and embark on the road to financial freedom together.


Alison Australian real estate information platform


The original intention of Miss Alison to establish investwithalison.com is to provide neutral Australian real estate information through this platform and help investors establish the most suitable investment strategy.


👉Website: investwithalison.com

👉Email: hello@investwithalison.com

👉Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/alisonwongaustralia/





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