Health Job Market Update, September 2024

October 08, 2024

Share Now

Australian Health Workforce - Jobs Summary (Aug-24 data):

Overall Health and Medical job vacancies in Australia continue to decline on the back of record employment growth and a weakening economy. Total Employed is at a record high for the sector. Population growth is moderating, and vacancy rates are dropping. However, job vacancies for Medical Practitioners increased slightly month-on-month. Find analysis for each occupation group below.

Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx. Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation table below for the break-down of Occupations and Occupation Groups covered in the scope of this report.

WHOLE SECTOR/ ALL OCCUPATIONS

Job Vacancies, Aug-24

Month-on-month change (Aug-24 vs July-24): ⬇

-652 job vacancies -1.97%

Year-on-year change (Aug-24 vs Aug-23): ⬇

-10294 -24.12%

Job Vacancy Rate, Aug-24

(Job Vacancies as % of Total Employed workforce): 1.9%

10-year Trend: Total Employed vs Job Vacancies


Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx; Total Employed - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table). Refer the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Occupations and Occupation Groups covered in the scope of this report.

10-year Trend: Total Employed as % of Australian Population

Source: Population data - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/mar-2024#data-downloads > Population - states and territories, Quarterly population by sex, by state and territory, from June 1981 onwards > Q1 (March) yearly values. Total Employed data - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table) > Q2 (May) values. Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Occupations and Occupation Groups covered in the scope of this report.

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS

Job Vacancies Aug-24

Month-on-month change (Aug-24 vs July-24): ⬆

+73 +1.62%

Year-on-year change (Aug-24 vs Aug-23): ⬇

-1810 -28.39%

Job Vacancy Rate, Aug-24

(vacancies as % of total employed workforce): 3%

10-year Trend: Total Employed vs Job Vacancies

Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx; Total Employed - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table). Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Medical Practitioner occupations covered in the scope of this report.

Average # online job ads for August: 3-years compared

Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx > Medical Practitioner Occupations (refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Medical Practitioner occupations covered in the scope of this report).

NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

Job Vacancies, Aug-24

Month-on-month change (Aug-24 vs July-24): ⬇

-411 -5.02%

Year-on-year change (Aug-24 vs Aug-23): ⬇

-3639 -31.91%

Job Vacancy Rate, Aug-24

(Vacancies as % of total employed workforce): 2%

10-year Trend: Total Employed vs Job Vacancies

Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx; Total Employed - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table). Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Nursing and Midwifery occupations covered in the scope of this report.

ALLIED HEALTH

Job Vacancies, Aug-24

Month-on-month change (Aug-24 vs July-24): ⬇

-2 -0.02%

Year-on-year change (Aug-24 vs Aug-23): ⬇

-2534 -19.50%

Job Vacancy Rate, Aug-24

(vacancies as % of total employed workforce): 2.5%

10-year Trend: Total Employed vs Job Vacancies

Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx; Total Employed - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table). Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Allied Health occupations covered in the scope of this report.

SUPPORT WORKERS / ASSISTANTS / TECHNICIANS

Job Vacancies, Aug-24:

Month-on-month change (Aug-24 vs July-24): ⬇

-33 -5.86%

Year-on-year change (Aug-24 vs Aug-23): ⬇

-180 -25.40%

Job Vacancy Rate, Aug-24

(vacancies as % of total employed workforce): 1.3%

10-year Trend: Total Employed vs Job Vacancies

Source: Job Vacancies - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/internet-vacancy-index > Data downloads > Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO4 Occupations, States and Territories - August 2024.xlsx; Total Employed - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release#data-downloads > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table). Refer to the ANZSCO Occupation Table below for the break-down of Support Workers, Assistants and Technician occupations covered in the scope of this report.

In-demand Jobs this month: Health and Medical Occupations with the highest number of job vacancies in Australia, Aug-24:

  • Registered Nurses: 7112*
  • Aged and Disabled Carers: 3764
  • General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers: 3523*
  • Occupational Therapists: 1802*
  • Social workers: 1633*
  • Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers: 1468*
  • Welfare Support Workers: 1353*
  • Physiotherapists: 1294*
  • Audiologists and Speech Pathologists/Therapists: 1194*
  • Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals: 1131*

*IVI Aug-24 - 3 month average - jobs advertised online

In-demand jobs this year: Health and Medical Occupations with the highest annual growth or lowest decline in job vacancies, Aug-23 vs Aug-24:

With record growth in employment numbers and a weakening economy, the Australian labour market has experienced a decline in job vacancy rates year-on-year. The list below, therefore, looks at the Health and Medical occupations experiencing the lowest decline in job ad volumes from Aug-23 to Aug-24.

  • Surgeons: + 11.05%*
  • Psychiatrists: -0.46%*
  • Welfare Support Workers: -5.89%*
  • Specialist Physicians: -6.47%*
  • Dental Assistants: -9.70%*
  • Social workers: -9.91%*
  • Nutrition Professionals: -12.55%*
  • Special Care Workers: -12.11%*
  • Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals: -15.76%*
  • Audiologists and Speech Pathologists/Therapists: -17.71%*

*IVI Aug-24 - 3 month average – jobs advertised online, Aug-24 vs Aug-23

ANZSCO Occupation Table - Health and Medical Occupations and Occupation Categories:

Table notes: Created by MedicalJobsAustralia.com, shows which occupations are covered in the scope of our report, and how occupations are grouped. Source: ANZSCO 4-digit occupations relevant to the Health and Medical workforce.

News articles linked via MedicalJobsAustralia.com are the copyright of the respective media organisations providing them.

Analysis and commentary © 2025 Health and Medical Pty Ltd.

Related Articles

Survey shows falling residential Aged Care staff numbers

Recent government statistics show a decline of over 45,000 workers in residential aged care between 2020 and 2023, with a 42% drop in allied health professionals and fewer FTE nursing and personal care staff, while subcontractor use rose. Without mandatory targets for allied health services, many have moved to the growing home care sector, which has seen increased numbers of allied health professionals, FTE staff, and casual/fixed-term positions.

Read More
Diploma of Nursing Webinar – find out about studying Fees Free with Mater Education in QLD

Mater Education is hosting a Diploma of Nursing Webinar on September 3, 2024, from 6 pm to 7 pm. The event will cover studying nursing in Brisbane, Springfield, or Townsville, with insights from expert educators, details on fee-free study opportunities for October 2024, and information on work experience placements. Participants can also learn about the eligibility criteria, application process, and ask questions during a live Q&A. Register here.

Read More
A fight for staff: Nurse shortage threatens aged care fix

This article discusses Australia's growing nursing shortage, which threatens to derail federal efforts to improve aged care. Providers are struggling to meet government-mandated daily care minutes due to the lack of nurses, a situation expected to worsen until at least 2035. While the government has increased wages and pledged funds, aged care managers and nursing federations stress the need for higher salaries, better incentives, and workforce reforms to attract and retain nursing staff.

Read More
Doctors in training: HETI’s General Medicine Trainee Conference at Wollongong Hospital

The Health Education and Training Institute (HETI), together with the Southern Sector Network, presents the 2nd General Medicine Trainee Conference, hosted by Wollongong Hospital on Saturday 23 November 2024, 8:30am – 5:35pm. Participants will look at case studies across perioperative medicine, obstetric medicine and complex medical care, and skill development workshops in vascular system, abdominal and chest ultrasound. $75 per person, register online here.

Read More
All Blog Articles