Healthcare Fields Dominate Job Market for International Graduates
International students in healthcare-related fields are the most likely to secure employment in Australia, consistently outperforming other disciplines at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Survey Methodology and Scope
Last month, the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) survey program released its 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) report, which tracks employment outcomes for international students in Australia. Sponsored by the Australian Department of Education, the survey measures employment rates for graduates approximately 4–6 months after completing their programs.
The survey gathered responses from nearly 30,500 international students across more than 110 institutions. The data is categorized into three levels: Undergraduate, Postgraduate Coursework, and Postgraduate Research.
Undergraduate Employment Leaders
According to the results, healthcare-related fields occupy the top spots for the highest full-time employment rates. In contrast to previous years, engineering and technology fields have fallen out of the top tier, with employment rates in those sectors dropping to around 50% or lower for recent international graduates.
For the undergraduate level, the top five fields by full-time employment rate (4–6 months after graduation) for international students are:
| Rank | Field | Employment Rate (%) | Average Salary (AUD/year) | |------|-------|---------------------|---------------------------| | 1 | Dentistry | 93.3 | Not available | | 2 | Pharmacy | 90.8 | 57,800 | | 3 | Medicine | 88.7 | 83,300 | | 4 | Veterinary Science | 81.4 | 72,500 | | 5 | Teacher Education | 80.9 | 77,000 |
International undergraduates in Communications and Creative Arts face the toughest job markets. The survey reveals that full-time employment rates for these fields 4–6 months after graduation are just 32.2% and 37.8%, respectively.
Postgraduate Employment Trends
Career prospects at the postgraduate level largely mirror those of undergraduates, with healthcare fields dominating. However, the field of education presents a unique contrast. While it ranks fifth for employability at the undergraduate level, it is the most difficult field for postgraduate research students to find work in. Only 60% of graduates in this specific category secure a job within six months.
Postgraduate Coursework Level
| Rank | Field | Employment Rate (%) | Average Salary (AUD/year) | |------|-------|---------------------|---------------------------| | 1 | Medicine | 89.9 | 87,700 | | 2 | Rehabilitation | 89.9 | 74,300 | | 3 | Veterinary Science | 74.3 | Not available | | 4 | Pharmacy | 70.4 | Not available | | 5 | Law and Paralegal Studies | 69.8 | 70,200 |
Postgraduate Research Level
At the postgraduate research level, the top five employable fields include Science and Mathematics, but healthcare-related fields still make up the majority:
| Rank | Field | Employment Rate (%) | Average Salary (AUD/year) | |------|-------|---------------------|---------------------------| | 1 | Law and Paralegal Studies | 88 | Not available | | 2 | Psychology | 87.8 | Not available | | 3 | Health Services and Support | 85 | 100,000 | | 4 | Medicine | 81.3 | 95,000 | | 5 | Science and Mathematics | 80.6 | 92,600 |
Student Demographics and Salary Insights
According to data from the Australian Department of Education as of September, there are approximately 822,000 international students currently in Australia. Vietnamese students comprise the fourth-largest group, numbering over 36,000—a 4% decrease compared to the previous year.
In terms of income, the QILT report indicates that the median salary for international graduates ranges from AU$68,000 to AU$95,600 per year.
For Vietnamese graduates specifically, the salary range is recorded between $63,700 and $97,800 per year.
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