Looking at growth industries: where can your child's career take them?

The job market is continually evolving, both globally and locally. In fact, it’s changing so quickly that today’s students are said to be training for jobs that don’t yet exist.

As your child begins to learn more about jobs of interest, it’s worth considering growth industries to see which opportunities they may provide — both upon job commencement and into the future. The Department of Employment has projected industry growth over the period to 2019, with Health Care and Social Assistance; Education and Training; and Professional, Technical and Scientific featuring in the top four.

Health Care and Social Assistance, ‘The Care Givers’

• Growth projection: 18.7%
• Jobs: 258,000

Health Care and Social Assistance is the top industry set to explode in the next five few years — owing to Australia’s ageing population, the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a higher demand for childcare services.

Careers to consider include:

• Aged and Disabled Carer
• Childcare Centre Manager
• Counsellor
• Social Worker
• Registered Nurse
• Nurse Manager
• Massage therapist
• Occupational and Environmental Health Professional
• Physiotherapist
• Medical Imaging Professional.

Education and Training, ‘The Inspirers’

• Growth projection: 15.6%
• Jobs: 142,700

Education and Training is next in line due to a surge in the school-aged population in Australia. As well as school teaching staff, this will open the need for a greater number of non-teaching and part-time workers.

Careers to consider include:

• Early Childhood Teacher
• Primary School Teacher
• Middle School Teacher
• University Lecturers and Tutor
• Special Education Teachers
• Private Tutor
• Education Adviser
• Contract, Program and Project Administrator
• Driving Instructor.

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, ‘The Experts’

• Growth projection: 14.4%
• Jobs: 136,600

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services follows as next high-growth industry, coming from growing need for highly skilled and expert professionals. The federal government’s Infrastructure Growth Package has been a strong force in opening opportunities, particularly in Architectural, Engineering and Technical Services.

Careers to consider include:

• Financial Investment Adviser and Manager
• Auditors and Company Secretary
• Financial Dealer
• Electronics Engineer
• Building and Engineering Technician
• Civil Engineering Draftsperson and Technician
• Chemist
• ICT Manager
• Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security
• Solicitor.