Live & Work in Australia: Bridge the Skills Gap & Be In-Demand

Australia boasts a great culture and lifestyle centred around wellbeing and taking advantage of the great outdoors and all year round sunshine and mild temperatures, even in the winter months.

With an array of coastlines, those living in Australia love spending time at the beach for socialising, sports or activities. Australians are well known for a somewhat laid-back lifestyle and an easy-going nature which makes the Australian lifestyle hugely appealing to others across the globe.

Stephen Hall specialises in safety and technical mining recruitment at CSG Talent based in Melbourne, Australia. He shares his own insights into relocating to Australia; ‘’Nine years ago I came to Australia for a two week holiday, not knowing my life was about to change dramatically. It quickly became apparent that I wanted to explore the opportunity to stay long term, for a number of reasons and I am glad I did. 

The Australian lifestyle has provided me a work life balance, which I didn’t know was possible, aided by CSG Talent, and their genuine care for employee’s happiness. There is always somewhere new to explore (unsurprising given the size of the country) and restaurants to eat in. I particularly enjoy being outdoors, the warmer climate and the safe & inclusive environment all the major cities provide to expats.”

Not only is Australia a great place to be for a well-rounded lifestyle and culture, it’s an area with huge growth and development across a wealth of sectors where you can really excel your career. In this article we talk through the industries experiencing rapid growth, the skills gaps causing hiring challenges for businesses and the talent most in demand.

High growth industry sectors in Australia

Many sectors across Australian states are experiencing significant growth and increases in revenue. Some of the areas experiencing the most exciting growth right now include:

Renewable Energy 

With the energy transition being a core focus across the globe to drive more sustainable energy practices, Australia is also experiencing significant growth in the renewable energy sector, supported by government initiatives and private investment. Solar and wind power are key focuses which with all year-round sun and vast amounts of space, mean that Australia is in a prime position to facilitate and build on the renewable energy space. Another area powered by renewable energy is electric vehicles and EV charging.

Healthcare

There is increased demand for both healthcare professionals and services as a result of Australia’s aging population, government investment and an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases.

According to IBISWorld, the Australian healthcare industry has reached an estimated $207.1 billion this year, an annual growth rate of 1.8%.

Construction and Building

The construction industry in Australia is one of the five largest sectors in the economy and accounts for around 10% of GDP – Masters Builders Australia. After the construction industry experienced a stagnant period in recent years, it’s positive to see rapid growth which is great for the economy, infrastructure and the number of jobs available within the construction market.

Tourism and Hospitality

Australia is undoubtedly an attractive holiday and travel destination and many areas within tourism and hospitality are experiencing huge growth and demand such as travel agents and hotels. With advancements in technology and online platforms, the online travel industry is experiencing an increase in traffic and online bookings.

Skills gaps and talent in demand

Alike many areas across the globe, skills gaps are prevalent across a variety of industry sectors within Australia. STEM industries are experiencing significant talent shortages within healthcare, IT, engineering and other science related spaces with a demand for talent including Engineers, Scientists, Software Programmers and Healthcare professionals.

Below, we explore some of the roles we are seeing most in-demand across Australia at the moment:

Construction Manager

A Construction Manager is responsible for the organisation and planning of building, construction and civil engineering projects. Some core duties include:

• Coordination of resources, both staffing, materials and equipment
• Managing and liaising with all internal and external stakeholders
• Preparation of bids and tenders
• Responsible for the entire construction cycle to ensure budgets and time restraints are met
• Implementation on work programs on sites, ensuring standards, safety and quality controls are adhered to

Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer plays a core role in the planning, design and organisation of construction of large-scale civil engineering development projects of bridges, pipelines, utility supply schemes and systems. A Civil Engineer will:

• Establish construction methods and procedures for civil engineering projects including materials, specifications and quality standards
• Manage on-site activities, including the workforce and coordinating equipment and materials
• Use architectural drawings to plan timescales and cost for work and monitor amends to designs to establish the impact this may have and adapt where necessary
• Analyse structural systems and design successful and effective structures

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for the design and development of software applications and systems within a business. Core responsibilities of a Software Engineer include:

• Writing code for new and existing software, ensuring programs meet requirements and efficiencies
• Maintaining programs by continually adjusting and testing code, making recommendations on when to seek new technology and systems
• Writing of specifications alongside technical teams
• Share knowledge and advice for developing strategies for software design

Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is accountable for driving new business and growth opportunities. Focused on building strong networks and to support the attraction of new business. Some core responsibilities include:

• Build strong networks with target audiences both in person and online through networking, industry events, trade shows etc
• Develop a strong understanding of business offerings, services and products to effectively sell into new business customers
• Develop strategic marketing plans and research new market opportunities to ensure a robust pipeline of business is in place
• Forecast and plan sales projections and expected revenue from new business opportunities

Mining Engineer

A Mining Engineer oversees both the construction and development of mines, responsible for mine efficiency and safety. Some of the core duties include:

• Inspection of mining sites both new and existing to establish how to extract materials
• Plan and design mining operations, adhering to safety regulations and overseeing large scale projects and workforce
• Evaluate all mining operations through reporting of mining materials and equipment
• Explore scope and potential of new mining technologies and developments to stay up to date with trends and equipment which can enhance mining efficiencies

At CSG Talent, four of our global offices are based in Australia with teams in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne. To explore our current job vacancies in Australia, click here. Alternatively, check out our Australian offices here.