Skills for the future careers
Looking at 2025 jobs with USQ
WHAT will the jobs of the future look like in Toowoomba six years from now, and what qualifications will you need to get them?
This is the question being posed across the country, as universities and governments try to plan for the careers needed in 2025.
University of Southern Queensland associate careers director Tessa McCredie said understanding these challenges and being able to adapt would help students when heading into the jobs market.
“Some of the jobs that are here today didn’t exist 10 years ago. We know that in five or 10 years, there are going to be jobs that won’t exist anymore,” she told The Chronicle.
“We like to remind students that some of the core skills, like resilience and adaptability to the changing market, are critical skills for all graduates.
“It’s those career management skills that are going to help guide people through the labour market.”
USQ partners with these industries to tailor its courses to what employers will want, according to Ms McCredie.
“We are working with industry to look at what’s required for the future. Accreditation requires us to partner with it,” she said.
But what fields should they study to get a jobs? Ms McCredie has outlined four industries that will produce two out of three jobs within the next 10 years:
Health and Social Services
AS TOOWOOMBA and the rest of the country ages, jobs in health and community services are going to boom.
Ms McCredie said along with standard primary health work, this was coupled with the growing need for socials services for areas like disability and aged care.
“There’s no doubt that health nationally is a burgeoning service area,” she said.
“Within an industry, you have multiple job opportunities.
“If you’re studying business and commerce, you can still look to health because there are so many opportunities within it.”
More than 14,500 people worked in health and social services in the Toowoomba region in the past financial year, easily the largest employer.
USQ has courses in paramedicine, health, nursing, midwifery, human services, biomedical sciences and sport and exercise.
Construction
A COMMITMENT from the Federal Government to renew, upgrade and extend the nation’s infrastructure and a construction boom in Toowoomba has led to increased optimism in the sector for jobs.
Ms McCredie said business and engineering degrees would be well-suited.
“There is a lot of investment in infrastructure, and that’s why our engineering courses are well-placed,” she said.
“There is going to be continued jobs growth.”
USQ offers degrees in engineering, construction as well as urban and regional planning.
Education and training
THE growth in education and training services, as well as childcare, will require more people to fill the positions.
Ms McCredie said this was also bolstered by an increased demand for adult education, as older Toowoomba residents tried to adapt to a changing workforce.
“We know there is a strong demand for education, and we provide programs in early childhood and school education,” she said.
“There is also a growth in adult education.”
USQ has courses in education, from early childhood to high school.
Professional, scientific and technical services
THE final sector with plenty of job prospects is different, because its growth is partially dependent on other industries.
“That relates to the jobs that might support industry areas,” Ms McCredie said.
“In that cluster, you have areas like marketing, accounting, law, economics, among others.
“They all play a role within those bigger industries.”
USQ has degrees available for law, information technology, arts and media, business and commerce.