Find work worth doing.
Workworthy shows you which Australian careers are genuinely in demand, pay a real living, and are hard for AI to replace — built on the government's own data, with our plain-English read on what it means. For your kid, or for you.
- Occupations rated
- 916
- In demand right now
- 273
- States & territories
- All 8
See it before you take our word for it
7 real occupations from this year’s data. How long each one’s been in demand, what it takes to get in, and — where there’s an apprenticeship — what it pays to start.
Carpenter and Joiner
In demand 5 years running
Getting inSteady buildApprentices start around $710/wk if they've finished Year 12
Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
In demand 4 years running
Getting inBig commitmentElectrician (General)
In demand 5 years running
Getting inSteady buildApprentices start around $683/wk if they've finished Year 12
Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
In demand 5 years running
Getting inBig commitmentAged or Disabled Carer
In demand 5 years running
Getting inQuicker startPlumber (General)
In demand 5 years running
Getting inSteady buildApprentices start around $688/wk if they've finished Year 12
Hairdresser
In demand 5 years running
Getting inSteady buildApprentices start around $616/wk if they've finished Year 12
Ratings are Jobs and Skills Australia’s 2025 data. The multi-year streak is our own count of consecutive years in national shortage — not JSA’s. Getting-in is our read on the training pathway; apprentice pay is the Fair Work award minimum for a first-year apprentice who’s finished Year 12 (it’s lower if they haven’t). How we work this out.
What makes a career worth it
A good bet isn't just a job that exists today. It's in demand, it pays, it has a future — and it's something you can be proud of.
Actually in demand
We start from Jobs and Skills Australia's own read on which jobs are short of workers — state by state, not national averages that hide your town. No guesswork.
Pays a real living
Plenty of trades pay you to train instead of landing you a degree's worth of debt. You can see how each one's pay stacks up.
Hard for AI to replace
Hands-on, in-person, problem-solving work is the hardest for automation to touch. We flag where each occupation sits — and we're upfront that's our read, not a prediction.
Something to be proud of
Uni's a great road. It's just never been the only one. Skilled work built this country, and there's real opportunity in it right now.
What would your kid earn as an apprentice?
Pick a trade and see the real weekly pay, straight from the Fair Work pay guides — most trades pay you to train.
The shortage ratings come straight from Jobs and Skills Australia. The plain-English read on what they mean for your kid, in your state — that part's us. And we'll always tell you which is which.
Know the moment new numbers land
You're already seeing the newest numbers: the 2025 Occupation Shortage List is the government's current release — checked against the source in July 2026 — and apprentice pay rates include the 1 July 2026 increase. When the next list lands, we'll send one note: what moved, what it means. No newsletter, no selling your address.