Most In-Demand Jobs In Australia 2026

 

Accountants, teachers and engineers are among the top roles most in demand in 2026. While the skills shortage continues to impact various sectors, some industries - including energy, renewables and financial services - recorded an increased headcount. With agriculture and telecommunications experiencing a reduction in headcount over the last year.

 

Regardless of whether permanent or contract, these are the jobs that remain in the highest demand in Australia for the year ahead.

 

Below is our list of the top roles in demand for 2026. These are the job titles that are in strongest demand relative to supply.

 

Accounting professionals are sought across the board, particularly at the intermediate level. A decline in people undertaking an accounting degree is adding to the skills imbalance. technical financial accountants and management accountants are highly sought after, as are finance managers and payroll officers.

 

According to the latest Hays Salary Guide finance managers can typically earn $150k within a business with a turnover up to $100m, and $180k in a business with a turnover over $300m – although the upper limit for this role can be as high as $220k.

 

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As organisations continue to embark on and embed digital transformations, more data is brought into the digital realm and continued government regulations around the protection of that data means that cyber security specialists are needed across all industries.

 

A cyber security architect on average can earn $187k, a penetration tester could earn up to $180k and cyber security engineers can earn between $120k and $180k.

 

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Office support workers are in demand across all industries. Executive assistants are the most highly sought after, with experienced and skilled professionals not remaining in the job market for long. A typical executive assistant working for one person in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth typically earns $120k, and up to $135k in certain Sydney roles.

 

Project administrators are also in high demand as they are not readily available so are placed very quickly when looking for a new role.

 

The availability of temporary roles for office administrators remains high due to consistent turnover, with many candidates pursuing opportunities for better job growth.

 

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From structural and grid to civil engineering professionals remain in high demand. With both federal and state governments continuing to focus on infrastructure projects, hiring demand is evident across the nation. In addition, the focus on decarbonisation and energy supply transformation projects means Grids Connection and Power System Engineers are also in high demand.

 

Power system engineers can earn up to $200k in any Australian state with a typical salary of $170k. Electrical and instrumentation engineers and ventilation engineers in the mining sector are also in particular need, as well as geotechnical engineers. There is a lack of experienced engineers on the market, and organisations work hard to retain the staff that they do have. The remote nature of many of these roles additionally makes finding the right people for the right job a challenge across this diverse industry.

 

Electrical and design engineers earning up to $200k in any state, with a typical range sitting at $160k.

 

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Despite the rise of AI such as ChatGPT, software developers in specialised technology such as Salesforce, Oracle and ServiceNow are in high demand across most industries. As organisations look to reign in overspending and realise the capabilities of their digital transformations, they are hiring their own software and applications programmers to design, build and maintain software solutions that have been implemented.

 

A basic developer working with .net or java typically earns around $120k in Sydney and Canberra, although this is more like $160k for a senior developer.

 

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As organisations rely increasingly on technology, those who help ‘keep the lights on’ are in high demand. All roles including help desks and desktop support to server maintenance and infrastructure managers are in demand across all industries.

 

Level one service desk assistants can typically earn between $55k and $65k, whereas infrastructure managers can earn up to $170 in metro regions.

 

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There are a number of roles that are in high demand within the procurement profession. Many organisations are looking to drive more specific focus on individual categories of spend leading to high demand for category managers, and those that have a strong level of subject matter expertise within certain categories, namely professional services, technology and direct spend.

 

Category managers in Perth can earn up to $200k, with a typical range between $140k and $160k in metro areas.

 

Sourcing specialists are also in high demand at the moment. Inflation and interest rates remain high, therefore organisations are focusing closely on cost. Many are aiming for cost savings via effective strategic sourcing and go-to-market activity which is leading to a demand for sourcing focused skillsets.

 

A strategic sourcing manager in Perth and Melbourne can earn up to $210k, whereas the typical range for metro areas sits between $130k and $155k.

 

Always in high demand are procurement specialists, the ‘jack of all trades’ types of roles within an organisation's procurement function. Due to the nature of these roles, professionals here also can add value to a bottom line, regardless of organisational scope, structure, or hierarchy. People in these roles must possess skills in assessing leading procurement processes, managing supplier performance, negotiation and managing established contracts, with the latter a rare skill at present.

 

A procurement specialist typically earns $125k in Canberra or Perth and $120k in Sydney and Melbourne, although an upper limit of $140k applies to most metro areas

 

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Electricians are in high demand, especially A-Grade licensed electricians. In the world of mining there is certainly room for highly skilled electricians, with a typical salary of $175k in WA, and sometimes reaching $200k.

 

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The education and training sector continues to face a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly primary school teachers, early childhood teachers, and special education educators. With Australia’s population growth and increasing demand for early childhood education, qualified teachers remain among the nation’s most in-demand jobs.

 

Those with a bachelor’s degree or graduate certificate in education are best positioned to access the strongest employment opportunities within the education sector.

 

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Driven by Australia’s ageing population and the expansion of health care and social assistance, registered nurses and resident medical officers remain at the top of the high demand jobs list. From hospitals to aged care facilities and community health, the need for health professionals with strong mental health and aged care expertise continues to rise.

 

These roles require not only clinical skill but also adaptability and leadership, traits critical to maintaining quality care in a fast-evolving health care system.

 

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The retail trade sector is experiencing renewed demand for retail managers capable of leading teams in an increasingly digital and omnichannel environment. As consumer expectations evolve, retailers seek job-ready leaders who can balance in-store performance with online operations and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

 

Retail operations managers and multi-site leaders remain eligible skilled occupations under Australia’s workforce planning priorities.

 

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The transport, postal and warehousing industry continues to face acute shortages of truck drivers, fleet controllers, and transport managers, with the skills shortage intensified by retirements and fewer new entrants into the sector. As supply chains adapt post-pandemic, MR/HR and HC/MC drivers are increasingly sought after across logistics and distribution networks.

 

Typical earnings for truck drivers range from $75k to $100k, with senior logistics professionals such as transport managers and fleet managers earning between $120k and $160k depending on state and experience Hays Salary Guide FY25-26.

 

These positions offer strong prospects for job security, particularly for those with experience in freight coordination and transport compliance.

 

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As Australia’s labour market trends continue to evolve, developing skills that align with industry needs will be key to staying competitive. To future-proof your career path, explore current opportunities and connect with experts who can guide your next move. Submit your CV to our recruiters today.