Australia has a shortage of skilled workers, both tradespeople and white-collar professionals.
Getting a job in Australia can seem very daunting. We will help make it easier for you by helping you to be well-prepared.
A good starting point for background information on what you will need before looking for jobs in Australia is available on the Government’s Department of Immigration website.
A good source of information on the Australian Labour Market, Skills and Trade Recognition, and general HR regulations take a look at the Australian Governments Workplace website.
What occupations are in demand in Australia?
Australia has a real shortage of skilled people in different occupations, especially tradespeople such as plumbers, builders or even hairdressers.
The Australian Government wants to attract skilled people to get jobs in Australia. To help, they now run regular Australian Expos in the UK and other countries where you can speak to experts and potential employers about jobs or studying in Australia.
The Occupations listed under the General Skilled Migration categories are those Occupations that have been identified as being important for Australia’s growth and offer long-term career opportunities.
Skilled points-tested migration applicants whose occupation is identified on the MODL are currently awarded an additional 15 or 20 points.
Best and Worst Jobs in Australia
Our survey has shown that the majority of Australians think of Mining as the best job in Australia, while financial and insurance services are the worst jobs.
Importance of Qualifications and Work Experience
Qualifications
A lot of migrants find their overseas qualifications recognised by the Department of Immigration and Customs but are not accepted by prospective employers who prefer Australian Qualifications. You will have fewer problems with this if you are migrating from the UK, USA or New Zealand, as many Australians have lived or worked in these countries, and so are familiar with the qualifications from there.
We would recommend anyone immigrating to Australia obtain a suitable Australian Qualification once they are living in Australia.
Universities are more likely to recognise qualifications, although international student places are in great demand and places are limited – see our section for Studying in Australia
Work Experience
Relevant work experience is essential and is one of the most important parts of any CV when trying to get a job in Australia.
Work agreements are very different from those in some countries, so it’s best to be clear about your particular work agreements before signing any contracts. For example, recent legislation means that people employed in companies with less than 100 employees can be easily dismissed without reason.
All working Australians need a Tax File Number(TFN) to work, for more details, visit the Australian Tax Office. It is simple to apply for and will take a couple of weeks to obtain. It is vital you apply for a TFN as soon as you arrive, otherwise, your employer may have to deduct emergency tax (approximately 48%) until you can supply one.
Finding the latest Australian job vacancies?
If you can secure a job in Australia before leaving home, that’s ideal. Some positions will only accept applications from permanent residents of Australia, so check this before sending in your details.
English Language – unless you are proficient in English, you will find it very difficult to get a job in Australia. See our section on Australian Visas for information on how to go about this.
Here is some help on finding that job in Australia. Australia Job Search Websites to try:-
- Seek – the most popular Australia Job Search website
- My Career – Australia’s biggest listing of Australia jobs
- Careerone – Another Australia Job Search website
- Job Search – Government-run Australia Job search website
Recruitment Agencies
A good way to speed up your finding a job in Australia is by using an agency that can assess your credentials and point you in the right direction. Each industry has its own specialist recruitment agencies, to find these, it would be worth reading industry publications or contacting industry associations.
You could try to a Google search for your relevant industry association of publication or look in the telephone directory Yellow Pages
The best advice we can give is don’t give up hope and good luck with finding jobs in Australia.