The Job Roles That Will Reshape The World Over The Next Decade

New projections reveal Australia is set to add two million new jobs by 2034, and these skill-based roles will be most in demand.

Despite a recent spike in unemployment rates, Australia’s job market is still limbering up for a growth sprint over the next decade. According to Government body Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), employment will boom by nearly 2 million roles by 2034. 

JSA partnered with Victoria University to develop employment projections through to May 2034, and the predictions indicate a massive structural shake up that will demand a new calibre of worker. Service sectors, health care, professional services, and education, are expected to account for the lion’s share. 

For anyone starting their career or thinking about a mid-life switch, the data is a map of the opportunities, and what skills you need to get them.

Healthtech and Human Care

The Health Care and Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Education and Training sectors will together account for more than half of all new jobs by 2034.

Healthcare alone is expected to grow by 585,000 roles, expanding nearly 26 per cent to become 17.4 per cent of all employment. The growth won’t just be in hospitals or aged care but will lay at the intersection of biology and algorithm as part of Australia’s Healthtech hyper-growth.

Behind this surge sits demographic and technological shifts. An aging population will demand larger health and care workforces, while the integration of AI in diagnostics, personalised medicine, and telehealth is spawning hybrid jobs. In short, we’re gearing up for a future filled with apps for your allergies and machine learning for your maladies.

Even support roles are modernising. Allied health assistants, aged care coordinators, and mental health counsellors will all see above-average growth. JSA also notes that demand for community and personal service workers is projected to jump by 341,000 jobs by 2034, pushing the sector’s employment share to its highest on record.

Skilled, Smart and Hybrid

The data modelling also showed that more than 90 per cent of new jobs will require a post-secondary qualification, with half needing a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 42.6 per cent relying on a VET qualification. Success will come from choosing a pathway that builds adaptable, job-ready skills.

The occupations seeing the sharpest rise belong to the “Professionals” group, projected to expand by over 785,000 positions by 2034. This broad category includes teachers, engineers, software developers, marketing analysts, and healthcare specialists.

The high-tech camp includes digital professionals, software engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity experts, and AI specialists. These roles are growing as every business becomes, in some sense, a tech company.

On the other hand, the high-touch camp, nurses, teachers, social workers, counsellors, and carers, will rise in value precisely because their skills cannot be automated. Roles that rely on empathy, creativity, and trust will never lose value, but as JSA’s projections hint, the “hybrid human” of the future will be someone who can combine digital fluency with emotional intelligence.

Whether working in hospitals, classrooms, labs, or design studios, the people who can bridge technology with humanity will have their pick of the future’s most in-demand jobs.

The Top Jobs of 2034 and What They’ll Look Like

By 2034 Australia’s workforce will be shaped by careers that combine technology with essential human skills. The top five jobs set to dominate reflect this dual demand for digital fluency and empathy are:

Health Care Professionals

Nurses, allied health specialists, and mental health counsellors will not only deliver critical care but also harness AI diagnostics, telehealth platforms, and personalised medicine to improve patient outcomes.

Software Developers and AI Specialists

These technology architects will build and maintain intelligent systems that power industries from finance to health, requiring a blend of deep coding expertise and sector-specific knowledge.

Data Scientists and Cybersecurity Experts

As trusted guardians of data and digital infrastructure, these professionals will analyse complex information and defend against cyber threats, playing strategic roles across government, business, and essential services.

Teachers and Educational Technologists

Education will evolve beyond traditional classrooms, with teachers designing learning experiences that integrate virtual reality, adaptive algorithms, and lifelong learning models, equipping learners for a rapidly changing world.

Renewable Energy Engineers and Sustainability Experts

As Australia accelerates towards net-zero emissions, engineers focused on solar, wind, and battery technologies will be vital in building and maintaining sustainable energy infrastructure.