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2026 insight: Top 10 jobs with highest employment growth 

Based on the latest data published by the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Australia, here are the top 10 jobs that have experienced the greatest employment growth, in terms of new jobs added: 

1. Aged and Disabled Carers (27,100 new jobs) 

Image: Pexels@Jsme MILA

Not only are Aged and Disabled Carers the fastest growing occupation, it also has the second largest workforce in this list. With 376,300 employed across Australia, it serves the needs of a rapidly aging population. The median age is 41 and women compose 73% of the workforce.  

While it dominates the raw number of jobs added, in terms of percentage growth, it has experienced 7.20% growth 

    1. Software and Applications Programmers (13,700 new jobs) 
     

    At number 2, we have Software and Applications Programmers. Out of this list, this occupation group has the highest weekly median earnings of $2,537 (which is equivalent to a $131,924 salary pre-tax). With 203,200 employees nationwide, the workforce is vital for meeting Australia’s technology capabilities and to meet the artificial intelligence industry boom.  

    However, there are reports [insert link] of this field being oversupplied in terms of students who enroll. This can be an issue for many of the occupations in this list, where, even if they are growing rapidly, the available positions are being rapidly filled.  

        1. Registered Nurses (12,600 new jobs) 

      Registered Nurses are also vital to Australia health infrastructure and to meet the needs of an aging population. There are 366,200 employed across Australia, with the typical nurse being a woman in her late 30s.  

          1. Child Carers (10,700 new jobs) 

        Child carers are the profession which is the most female-dominated in this list, making up 93% of the workforce. There are 184,600 employees in Australia and the labour force has experienced 5.80% growth in the past year.  

            1. Sales Assistants (General) (9,500 new jobs)

          Out of all the jobs in this list, sales assistants have the largest workforce of 562,000 individuals. As such, though the raw number of jobs added are higher, the actual rate of growth in the workforce is relatively lower, sitting at 1.69% in the last annum. 

          This is low-skilled occupation with a large workforce that may continue to grow as Australia’s population increases, subject to automation and other factors. Nonetheless, the positions are easily filled and replaceable and not ideal for long-term wage growth or job security.  

              1. Electricians (7,200 new jobs) 

            In terms of the number of jobs added, Electricians are the fastest growing trade in Australia. They have a moderately sized workforce of 197,300 individuals, growing at 3.65%.  

            Electricians are the most male dominated profession in this list, with 98% of individuals being male.  

                1. General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers (7,000 new jobs) 

              A profession known for high-income and job security, it is the smallest workforce in the list, totaling 97,300 employees nationwide.  

              The annual growth rate is 7.19%, near equivalent to the growth of Aged and Disabled carers, which likely reflects the similar needs of the aging Australian demographics.  

                  1. Education Aides (6,800 new jobs) 


                Another female-dominated profession, which makes up 87% of its workforce of 137,900 total. The annual growth rate is 4.93%.  

                    1. Secondary School Teachers (6,400 new jobs) 

                  With a larger workforce than education aides, secondary school teachers make up a total of 161,400 employed nationally. The typical teacher is 40-year old woman and the workforce is growing at a rate of 3.97% annually.  

                      1. Chefs (6,100 new jobs)

                    Chefs make up 133,400 individuals employed nationally and are growing at a rate of 4.57%.  

                    Interestingly, this is a fast-growing profession, meanwhile there are 3,500 Cooks leaving the workforce annually, a negative growth rate of 11.4% annually.  

                    Note: This does not mean that these careers have the most vacancies, which can be found here. Rather, it means that these are the fastest growing jobs in terms of employment numbers, even if there are limited vacancies due to labour supply- which is the amount of people who are able and willing to do the jobs.  

                    Further in the list:

                        1. Accountants 

                          1. Solicitors 

                            1. Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials 

                              1. Purchasing and Supply Logistics Clerks 

                                1. Health and Welfare Services Managers 

                              Data is published by Jobs and Skills Australia (February 2026)