TRADIES HAVE THE EDGE
BLUE collar workers are in high demand, with 15 trade and technician occupations forecast to experience particularly strong job growth.
The highly-sought workers are in a wide range of industries, from construction and horticulture to science and animal care.
SkillsOne chief executive Brian Wexham says there will always be a need for tradespeople, even as technology changes the way we work.
“There is always going to be a need for apprenticeships too as they are the basis of learning and learning well,” he says.
“Apprenticeships have been in decline but I think we are now starting to see an upturn because of the number of jobs becoming available, whether in building and construction or in hospitality.”
Between 2018 and 2023, the Federal Government’s Job Outlook data predicts “very strong” future growth for chefs (up 17 per cent in five years, creating 16,700 new jobs), information and communication technology support technicians (18 per cent, 12,100 jobs) and “other” technicians and trades workers, such as divers and interior decorators (18 per cent, 3200 jobs).
It also predicts “strong” future growth for gardeners (14 per cent, 10,900 jobs), cooks (14 per cent, 6300 jobs), animal attendants and trainers (13 per cent, 2000 jobs), glaziers (13 per cent, 1300 jobs), bakers and pastry cooks (12 per cent, 4300 jobs), plasterers (12 per cent, 4200 jobs), plumbers (11 per cent, 10,500 jobs), science technicians (11 per cent, 2500 jobs), greenkeepers (10 per cent, 2000 jobs), veterinary nurses (9 per cent, 1100 jobs), electrical engineering draftspersons and technicians (9 per cent, 1000 jobs), and shearers (8 per cent, 400 jobs).
Craig Knight, Queensland state manager for group training organisation WPC Group, says most people land these jobs with an apprenticeship or traineeship.
“Many careers in the industries that are forecast for future growth are hands-on roles, therefore vocational education and training is an ideal way to enter the industry,” he says. Nationally, WPC Group currently has more than 100 vacant apprenticeships and traineeships in industries such as automotive, horticulture, IT, hospitality, engineering, electrical and carpentry.