The latest Australian Jobs 2026 released by Jobs and Skills Australia provides a valuable snapshot of where Australia’s labour market is heading and what this means for students making decisions today. For career advisers, several messages stand out.
Qualifications matter, but there is no single “best” pathway. More than 90% of employment growth over the decade to 2035 is expected to require post-school training. Importantly, VET, apprenticeships and university should be presented as parallel pathways, with the right choice depending on the student’s interests, strengths and aspirations. Half of advertised jobs requiring post-school qualifications call for a VET qualification, compared with 40% requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
School subjects are one way to explore careers, but they don’t tell the whole story. When students first understand who they are, what they’re naturally good at and the strengths they bring, they can explore careers that genuinely fit them often discovering opportunities they may never have considered
Helping a young person understand who they are, what they’re naturally good at and the strengths they bring to work provides a much stronger foundation for exploring careers. MyCareerMatch gives students this personal starting point, which advisers can then combine with labour-market information to help them identify realistic and motivating pathways.
The report also highlights the importance employers place on personal attributes. At interview, 49% of employers identified a candidate’s approach and attitude to work as important, while 43% pointed to cultural fit and personality. This makes helping students recognise and articulate their strengths increasingly important not only for choosing a career, but eventually for getting the job.
Growth is particularly strong in Health Care and Social Assistance, with Education and Training, Construction, and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services also expanding. At the same time, AI is expected to change how many jobs are performed rather than simply replace them, increasing the value of human capabilities such as judgement, communication and problem-solving.
VET, apprenticeships and traineeships offer strong alternatives to university, particularly for students who prefer practical learning. Apprenticeships and traineeships also allow young people to earn while they learn, build real workplace experience and gain recognised qualifications, giving students more than one route to a secure and rewarding future.
Perhaps the most important message is that careers are becoming less linear. Students are likely to move between occupations, industries and further education throughout their lives. Helping them understand their transferable strengths and capabilities may therefore be more valuable than trying to identify one lifelong occupation.
Download the Australian Jobs 2026 report and use it alongside MyCareerMatch to help students connect who they are today with where Australia’s opportunities are heading tomorrow.
https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/download/19964/australian-jobs-2026/4069/australian-jobs-2026/pdf
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