Unlock Australia's Top 30 In-Demand Jobs and Their Salaries – Secure Your Future Now!

Tens of thousands of workers are needed to fill jobs in some of Australia’s most crucial sectors, with experts promising even entry-level roles can lead to more lucrative opportunities later.

Job platform SEEK has highlighted the most in-demand jobs in manufacturing, transport, retail, and trades, revealing a desperate need for nearly 10,630 retail store managers. There's also a shortage of over 8,500 truck drivers and close to 6,500 electricians, according to SEEK research.

SEEK senior economist Blair Chapman emphasized that these insights help Australians understand the job market's current shape, showing where opportunities are and which sectors are calling out for talent. "Knowing which roles are in the highest demand can give jobseekers a sense of where their skills might be most valued or where there's likely to be steady hiring activity," he said.

The Jobs That Need More Workers

Despite cost-of-living pressures affecting the retail sector, renewed consumer demand has increased the need for store managers, sales assistants, merchandisers, and customer service representatives. Australia's housing crisis is driving ongoing demand for tradies, especially electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Mechanics are also in short supply.

The manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors have long suffered worker shortages, with demand intensifying further. "Part of the ongoing demand for roles like delivery driver, picker and packer, and warehouse assistant can be attributed to more households shopping online and doing so more frequently," Chapman noted. "Roles like truck drivers are also seeing demand from large-scale infrastructure projects and construction across many regions."

Getting Out From Behind the Desk

Worker shortages in the transport sector are no surprise, with Road Freight NSW CEO Simon O'Hara stating that attracting new recruits is challenging, even though some salaries exceed $100,000. "This view that everyone has to be in some sort of managerial desk-based role to earn a high wage is just not true in the current environment," O'Hara said. "There are truckies out there earning in excess of $100,000 a year, and they're not at a desk. What they're doing is meaningful in moving cargo, which directly affects the community."

O'Hara added that while long-haul truck drivers often spend long periods away from home, forklift drivers and other logistics workers can maintain traditional 9-5 hours, appealing to those with young families.

Pathway to a Higher-Paid Role

Career Confident director Helen Green highlighted that the roles in the SEEK research offer plenty of opportunities for career growth. However, she warned that data for retail and logistics sectors might be distorted by hiring spikes before Christmas. Although many in-demand jobs come with relatively low salaries, it's crucial to consider job stability, progression opportunities, and how the role aligns with a jobseeker's values, strengths, and lifestyle.

"Many young people acquire terrific employability skills from working in sectors like retail and hospitality, even if it's not their long-term career plan," Green said. "Young people today are expected to have five or six careers. Even in a lower-paid role, picking up transferable skills could lead to a higher-paid role later."

Security for the Future

Janan Daniel, who considered a biological science degree after Year 12, switched to a bricklaying apprenticeship after a stint in his dad's business. This role, under the broader category of trades labourer, is in high demand. "I wasn't sure where university would lead me, but doing a trade felt like something that would offer me a future," said Daniel, who now runs his own business, JMD Bricklaying. "I wanted to ensure I'd always be busy and have income. Learning a trade and doing something with your hands will always be a good skill for long-term employment."