Students who come to Australia can stay in the country not only thanks to their diploma, but also through work in in-demand professions. The labour market is short of specialists in healthcare, aged care, education, construction and technology, especially in artificial intelligence.

Which industries need workers most in Australia

Right now there’s a clear picture of demand in the Australian labour market. Healthcare is facing an acute shortage of specialists, as is the social care sector, where people are needed to look after elderly citizens. Education also remains one of the priority industries: schools need teachers.

In information technology, the situation is mixed. While IT specialists remain in demand, especially in artificial intelligence, some companies are cutting jobs due to automation. In contrast, professions requiring physical labour and direct interaction with people are seeing the highest demand.

Construction trades: from carpenters to roofers

Australia’s construction sector has steady demand for several trades. Carpentry involves not just traditional woodwork but also installing windows and doors and assembling furniture. Most such projects are located in Sydney’s central business district, so they don’t require long commutes.

A separate category is plasterboard work, widely used in residential construction. These skills are highly valued by employers. Painters are also in demand.

One of the most profitable trades is roofing, especially metal roof installation. Specialists in this field earn between $35 and $40 an hour, while those with specialised equipment and vehicles can earn up to $100 an hour. Over the past two years, a practice has emerged where experienced tradesmen hire and sponsor young specialists, creating a kind of pipeline for professional development.

Hourly rates in Australian construction

Earnings in construction trades depend on the profession and equipment ownership

  • Carpentry, windows and doorsот 35–40per hour, base rate
  • Roofing (without specialised equipment)от 35–40per hour
  • Roofing with specialised vehicle and toolsдо 100per hour, maximum

Licensed trades: electricians and plumbers

Electrical work and plumbing in Australia are licensed professions. This means that before starting work, one needs to obtain official certification, which requires additional time and expense.

Although such specialists are in demand and employers are willing to hire, the path to licensing can be long and costly. Anyone choosing this route to stay in the country should understand they’ll be committing to working in this trade long-term.

IT jobs beyond entry-level positions

Besides basic IT specialists, there’s demand for qualified technical workers with mid-level IT education. This includes installing CCTV systems, access control and fire safety systems, as well as smart home technology.

These professions require technical education and practical skills, but not necessarily full programming expertise. They provide a stable income and career growth in specialised fields.

Строительный объект с лесами в деловом районе Сиднея.

How work helps you get permanent residency

A student who comes to study can start working in one of the in-demand professions alongside their education. By choosing this path, a person gains necessary experience while demonstrating their skills to a potential employer.

Work experience gained, plus educational qualifications, plus meeting the points requirements of Australia’s migration system — this is the path to permanent residency and eventually citizenship. With the right choice of profession, this path turns out to be one of the shortest and most reliable routes to immigrating to Australia.