Jobs and Skills Australia releases 2024 Occupation Shortage List

Jobs and Skills Australia has released the 2024 Occupation Shortage List (OSL), providing insight into national and regional shortages across various industries.  

Overview of the 2024 OSL 

The 2024 OSL shows that nearly three in ten occupations (303 out of 916) are currently in shortage. This represents an improvement of around 3% compared to the previous year. However, many sectors still face challenges in finding skilled workers. 

You can view the complete OSL on the Jobs and Skills Australia website here. 

Jobs and Skills Australia also released a report that provides detailed insights into workforce shortages across Australia. Covering 916 occupations, the report focuses on roles requiring tertiary education and training, using a 67% fill rate to determine whether an occupation is in shortage.  

When employers can fill less than 67% of vacancies, the occupation is considered to be in shortage. The report highlights ongoing challenges in sectors like health care, construction, and IT, where skill gaps remain significant. The findings are supported by data modelling, statistical analysis, and feedback from industry stakeholders and government bodies. You can read the full report here. 

Key occupations in shortage 

The 2024 OSL identifies several occupations where shortages remain an issue. These include sectors such as health care, hospitality, construction, and information technology. Notable occupations include: 

• Chefs and hospitality managers continue to be in high demand, particularly in Western Australia and Tasmania. 

• Taxation accountants and contract administrators, with shortages across New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, and the demand remains high. 

• Aged care and childcare workers, facing consistent shortages, especially in Queensland and South Australia, where the demand keeps increasing. 

• Trades such as bricklayers, electricians, and engineers, still essential for infrastructure projects, are in short supply across Victoria and Western Australia. 

• Technicians, required in various industries, are experiencing shortages in New South Wales and Victoria, due to ongoing needs in these sectors. 

• Aircraft maintenance technicians, are facing severe shortages as the aviation sector rebounds from the impacts of COVID-19, especially in Queensland and Tasmania, where skilled workers remain scarce. 

These shortages highlight areas where employers are struggling to find qualified candidates, despite some improvement in the overall market. 

ICT roles and ongoing workforce challenges 

Demand for ICT roles like cybersecurity and software engineering continues to be high. Although there has been some improvement since 2023, shortages in these areas are still significant. 

While national shortages have decreased slightly, critical sectors such as physiotherapy, midwifery, and nursing education continue to face challenges across states like New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, requiring further attention in workforce development planning. 

Occupations in critical demand without direct visa pathways 

Some occupations on the OSL face severe shortages but are not listed on the Department of Home Affairs’ Skilled Occupation List. This means that while these roles are in critical demand, there are no direct visa pathways such as the 482 or 186 visas to grant them work rights. Workers in these occupations may need to explore other options, including applying for regional visas or securing employment through labour agreements to meet visa requirements. 

These occupations include: 

• Aged or Disabled Carer 

• Bulldozer Operator 

• Construction Estimator 

• Crane, Hoist or Lift Operator 

• Cyber Security Advice and Assessment Specialist 

• Cyber Security Analyst 

• Cyber Security Architect 

• Cyber Security Operations Coordinator 

• Driller 

• Excavator Operator 

• Grader Operator 

• Industrial Spraypainter 

• Irrigation Technician 

• Loader Operator 

• Personal Care Assistant 

• Plasterer (Wall and Ceiling) 

• Renderer (Solid Plaster) 

• Scaffolder 

• Tree workers 

The 2024 OSL highlights changes in workforce needs across Australia. While some occupations have seen improvements, many sectors continue to face significant gaps in skilled labour. Employers need to adjust their recruitment strategies and invest in training to meet these changing demands. 

For further details and to schedule a consultation with one of our experts, please contact us at aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com.