Our jobs change with the times

It’s a different market now

SCHOOL leavers and career changers should not rely only on the advice of parents, as a lot has changed in the job market in the past 10 years.

Opportunities in health, education, child care and trades are easier to find now than a decade ago.

Meanwhile, sales, civil engineering, accountancy and legal job openings are not as plentiful as they previously were.

The Department of Jobs’ Vacancy Report reveals there were 1726 more roles available for registered nurses in December 2018 than in December 2008 – the largest increase of any occupation.

Other areas of opportunity are education aides (1199 more vacancies), child carers (855) and motor mechanics (755).

Group training organisation WPC Group has about 60 automotive apprenticeships ready to be filled right now. General manager Andrew Sezonov says it is partly because of society’s misconceptions about vocational education.

“People often equate apprenticeships and traineeships with poor pay and menial work,” he says.

“The reality is, 21st century apprenticeships and traineeships are much more technologically advanced and geared towards developing STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills.

“(Apprenticeships) provide young people with the opportunity to develop skills, earn while they learn, and gain a nationally recognised qualification that will accelerate their career.

“Employing an apprentice or trainee allows employers to combat a potential skills gap by developing a talent pipeline for their business, while also helping to address youth unemployment.”

In December 2018, there were 2467 vacancies for motor mechanics across Australia –

310 more than a year earlier.

Motor mechanics recorded the fourth largest year-on-year increase, behind only registered nurses (517 more vacancies), general clerks (413) and information and communication

technology business and systems analysts (377).

The Hays Jobs Report predicts strong demand for registered nurses through the first half of 2019, particularly in the aged care sector and in management

roles.

Despite the increasing number of job openings for certain occupations, other jobs that may have been recommended a decade ago now have fewer opportunities available.

From 2008 to 2018, vacancies significantly decreased for general sales assistants (down 4962), labourers (4722), civil engineers (4466), accountants (4178), sales representatives (3141) and solicitors (2440).

THE REALITY IS, 21ST CENTURY APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS ARE MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED ...