Shortage Skills in Australia
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Studying in Australia is more than an investment in a world-class degree. It is also a strategic step toward an international career. Australia’s economy is changing through the energy transition, an ageing population that needs more health and care workers, and large infrastructure and construction pipelines. Employers in these sectors actively need qualified graduates.
Aligning Your Degree with Market Realities
Choosing a recognised shortage area is the most reliable way to improve your job prospects after graduation, but it’s important to understand the full picture. Shortages eased in 2025: the number of occupations in national shortage fell by 12%, mostly because of fewer shortages among professionals. The share of Skill Level 1 occupations (usually degree-level jobs) in shortage fell from 37% in 2024 to 31% in 2025. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia – 2025 OSL Key Findings Report)
Even in shortage areas, employers in engineering, science and management report that some qualified candidates lack employability skills and experience. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) That’s why internships, work placements and practical experience matter as much as your degree.
Key Facts: Australian Workforce Trends (2026)
- Where the Shortages Are: 29% of occupations are in shortage, down from 36% in 2023 and 33% in 2024. Health, education and construction remain the hardest-hit areas. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Clean Energy Investment Engine: Future Made in Australia includes a Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive of A$2 per kilogram of renewable hydrogen, estimated to cost A$6.7 billion, and A$1.3 billion for the Hydrogen Headstart programme. (Source: Prime Minister of Australia)
- Health Workers Are Most Needed: Jobs and Skills Australia’s Labour Supply Index shows that health professionals dominate the list of most undersupplied occupations. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
Top In-Demand Careers in Australia for International Graduates
1. Registered Nursing
Nursing is one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing professions. Registered nurses number more than 366,000, employment grows by about 12,600 a year, and median full-time earnings are A$2,192 a week. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: To work as a nurse, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- Top Specialisations: Aged care, critical care and emergency, mental health and paediatric nursing.
2. Allied Health & Medical Sciences
Health professionals are the most undersupplied occupations in Australia. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: Hospitals, aged care providers and community health services need qualified health professionals across many disciplines. Most allied health professions require registration or accreditation with the relevant Australian board.
- Top Specialisations: Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, speech pathology and medical imaging.
3. Teaching & Early Childhood Education
Education is one of the three sectors with the most persistent shortages, mainly because there aren’t enough qualified applicants. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: Qualified teachers are needed in schools and early learning centres across the country, especially in regional areas. Teachers must meet state teacher-registration requirements.
- Top Specialisations: Early childhood education, secondary STEM teaching and special education.
4. Civil & Construction Engineering
Construction is one of the three sectors under the most shortage pressure. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) Civil engineering professionals earn a median of A$2,217 a week, compared with A$1,852 across all occupations. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: Transport, water and housing projects need civil, structural and geotechnical engineers.
- Top Specialisations: Structural engineering, transport engineering, water engineering and construction project management.
5. Clean Energy & Renewable Engineering
The government’s Future Made in Australia plan aims to make Australia a renewable energy superpower and add value to its natural resources. (Source: Australian Public Service Commission) It includes A$3.2 billion through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to commercialise net-zero technologies such as green metals, batteries and low-carbon fuels. (Source: Prime Minister of Australia)
- Top Specialisations: Electrical and power engineering, renewable energy systems, hydrogen technology and battery engineering.
6. Software Engineering & ICT
Software and applications programmers are a large, growing workforce: more than 203,000 people, growing by about 13,700 a year, with median earnings of A$2,537 a week. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: The ICT market is competitive. Jobs and Skills Australia found that roles in finance, science, design, engineering and ICT have the biggest gaps between what employers want and what applicants offer, meaning employers are very selective. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) Specialised skills and Australian work experience make a big difference.
- Top Specialisations: Cybersecurity, cloud engineering, data engineering and AI/machine learning.
7. Mining, Resources & Critical Minerals
Adding value to Australia’s resources is a core goal of Future Made in Australia. (Source: Australian Public Service Commission)
- The Details: Processing critical minerals and building battery and clean-tech supply chains need mining, metallurgical and chemical engineers, particularly in Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia.
- Top Specialisations: Mining engineering, metallurgy, geology and chemical engineering.
8. Science & Research
Engineering, science and management are fields where employers report gaps in employability skills and experience, even among qualified candidates. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
- The Details: Graduates who combine a strong degree with lab, research or industry experience are well placed. Research degrees (master’s by research and PhD) also qualify Indian graduates for the longest post-study work rights. (Source: DFAT)
- Top Specialisations: Biotechnology, environmental science, agricultural science and data science.
2026 Salary & Location Reference Matrix
| Shortage Skill Sector | Median Full-Time Earnings (All Experience Levels) | Approx. Annual* | Primary Hiring Regions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software & Applications Programming | A$2,537 / week (JSA) | ≈ A$131,900 | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane |
| Civil Engineering | A$2,217 / week (JSA) | ≈ A$115,300 | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth |
| Registered Nursing | A$2,192 / week (JSA) | ≈ A$114,000 | Nationwide, especially regional areas |
| All occupations (benchmark) | A$1,852 / week (JSA) | ≈ A$96,300 | — |
*Annual figures are my calculation (weekly median × 52). These medians cover all experience levels, so graduate starting salaries are lower. For reference, the national median salary for domestic undergraduates 4–6 months after graduation was A$71,000 in the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, and A$97,500 for postgraduates. (Source: UNSW, citing QILT)
Your Work Visa Pathway After Graduation
- Step 1: Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). This visa lets recent graduates with an Australian degree live, work and study in Australia temporarily. (Source: Study Australia) Indian graduates can stay up to 2 years after a bachelor’s, 3 years after a master’s (coursework or research) and 4 years after a PhD. (Source: DFAT)
- Step 2: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). This employer-sponsored visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa. Its Core Skills stream requires an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, 12 months of work experience and English proficiency, and allows a stay of up to 4 years. (Source: Department of Home Affairs – Skills in Demand fact sheet) From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills income threshold is A$79,423 and the Specialist Skills threshold is A$146,576. (Source: Vialto Partners)
Strategic Professional Insight: Your post-study work visa is your chance to build the Australian experience employers look for. Use it to work in your field, since the Skills in Demand visa requires 12 months of work experience. (Source: Department of Home Affairs)
The Eleevate Advantage: Strategic Career Planning
Choosing your Australian university is only the starting point. Picking a course that maps onto real, officially identified shortages is what secures your career. At Eleevate Overseas, our counsellors match your strengths with Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest shortage data, recommend courses that lead to professional registration where needed, and plan your route from student visa to post-study work and employer sponsorship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why should I target shortage skills in Australia as an international student?
Shortage occupations offer better job prospects and clearer visa pathways. Jobs and Skills Australia's Occupation Shortage List is used to help decide which occupations are eligible for the Skills in Demand visa. (Source: Service and Creative Skills Australia) Choosing a shortage field gives you more options after your post-study work visa ends.
2. Do I need a job offer to stay in Australia after graduation?
No. The Temporary Graduate visa lets recent graduates with an Australian degree stay and work without employer sponsorship. (Source: Study Australia) Indian graduates can stay up to 2 years after a bachelor's, 3 years after a master's and 4 years after a PhD. (Source: DFAT)
3. Can I move from a post-study work visa to an employer-sponsored visa?
Yes, once you have the required experience and a sponsoring employer. The Skills in Demand visa's Core Skills stream requires 12 months of work experience and an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List. (Source: Department of Home Affairs) From 1 July 2026, your salary must be at least A$79,423. (Source: Vialto Partners)
4. Is IT still in demand in Australia?
Yes, but it's competitive. Software and applications programmers grew by about 13,700 jobs in a year. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) However, employers in ICT and engineering are highly selective. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) Specialise in areas like cybersecurity, cloud or data, and gain internship experience.
5. Are there more job opportunities in regional Australia?
Often, yes. Regional employers find it harder to fill roles: the vacancy fill rate is 62.9% in regional areas compared with 69.7% in metropolitan areas. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) Graduates from regional institutions who live in a regional area may also qualify for a second Temporary Graduate visa. (Source: Study Australia)
6. Is nursing a good career choice for Indian students in Australia?
Yes. Registered nursing is a large, growing profession with median earnings of A$2,192 a week and about 12,600 new jobs a year. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia) You must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to practise. (Source: Jobs and Skills Australia)
