Employment in Australia

Australia's present skills shortage means that right now is a great time to be looking for employment across a wide range of industries, including skilled trades, education and nursing.

Australia's labour market is a competitive environment and consequently the amount of time required to find a suitable job is dependent on the specific labour market characteristics of the region of Australia in which you intend to live.

The labour market in Australia is undergoing constant change. For information regarding the latest developments in jobs, careers and occupational profiles, we suggest you visit the Australian Careers website.

Finding work in Australia

The majority of jobs in Australia are advertised through recruitment agencies. Almost all agencies have a website where you can search for job vacancies within your particular occupation. It can be beneficial to register with a number of different recruitment agencies to increase your chances of finding work.

When you find a suitable vacancy you will usually have to submit a job application for that position. In your application you should be prepared to include:

  • A description of your skills, experience and qualifications that could help you to do the job
  • Responses to specific selection criteria
  • Copies of references from previous employers
  • Copies of relevant educational and trade certificates.

To improve your chances of being selected for interview you should send a comprehensive application together with documentation that supports your claim to the job.

Newspapers are another major source of information about job vacancies. Most vacancies are advertised on Wednesday and Saturday in the 'Situations Vacant' or 'Positions Vacant' section of major Australian newspapers.

Qualifications and skills

Some occupations require you to be registered or licensed with a government authority of a professional or industry association. It is important that you are aware of any special requirements for your particular occupation prior to planning your move to Australia.

In some circumstances you made be required to undertake a bridging course to ensure that your skills meet the specific requirements of a professional body. This is additional training to ensure that your skills meet the standards required.

Working arrangements

A number of flexible working arrangements are available in Australia. Some of these include:

  • Full-time employment (8.5 hours a day, 5 days a week)
  • Permanent-part time (permanent employment on agreed upon reduced hours)
  • Contract work (working for an organisation for a period of time as an independent contractor). Contract work has become very popular in Australia and it is anticipated that this form of employment will continue to grow in the future.
  • Casual work (irregular employment as and when the organisation requires additional staff).