Jobs and Skills Australia’s national employment projections, informed by the Victoria University Employment Forecasting Model, calculate employment growth over the next 10 years (May 2023 to May 2033) by industry and occupation.
Employment in the Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry is projected to grow by 533,448 jobs, or 25% - with Allied Health Services projected to grow by 26% and Residential Care Services by over 30%. Employment for Health Professionals is projected to grow by over 25%, in particular Health Therapy Professionals by 30%, Social and Welfare Professionals by 29%, and Medical Practitioners by 29%.
Below we list the top 10 fastest-growing health and medical jobs projected over the next decade, using Jobs and Skills / Victoria University data. Further below, for comparison, we list the top 10 health and medical occupations that have experienced the highest growth over the last year and 10 year period.
*Please refer to our detailed data tables and source information at the end of this article for more information.
Top 10 fastest growing health and medical occupations over the next decade (May 2023-May 2033):
- Chiropractors and Osteopaths – employment for these Allied Health professionals is projected to grow by 31%
- Dental Practitioners - employment for Dentists is projected to grow by over 30%
- Podiatrists - employment for these Allied Health professionals is projected to grow by over 30%
- Physiotherapists - employment for these Allied Health professionals is projected to grow by over 30%
- Health and Welfare Services Managers – employment for Health and Welfare Services Managers is projected to grow by 30%
- Complementary Health Therapists - employment for these Allied Health professionals is projected to grow by 29%
- Medical Practitioners - employment for Medical practitioners, including Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Specialist Physicians, General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers, is projected to grow by 29%
- Psychologists – employment for these Social and Welfare Professionals is projected to grow by 29%
- Social Workers - employment for these Social and Welfare Professionals is projected to grow by 29%
- Aged and Disabled Carers – employment for Aged and Disabled Carers is projected to grow by 29%
Top 10 fastest growing health and medical occupations over the last decade (May 2014 – May 2024):
Over the last decade, from May 2014 – May 2024, health and medical occupations experienced 70.93% growth on average. The total number of people employed in the Health Care and Social Assistance Industry grew by 5.6% over the year (May 2023 – May 2024), but by 65% over the last decade (May 2014 – May 2024), which is very solid growth.
The health and medical occupations that recorded the highest growth in employment over the last year (May 2023-May 2024) include Dental Practitioners (+55%), Midwives (+45%), Chiropractors and Osteopaths (+42%), Personal Care Consultants (+35%), Physiotherapists (+30%), Diversional Therapists (+29%), Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers (+29%), Health and Welfare Service Managers (+28%), Welfare Support Workers (27%), and Other Medical Practitioners (+27%).
The health and medical occupations that recorded the highest growth in employment over the last decade (May 2014-May 2024) include Audiologists and Speech Pathologists \ Therapists (+196%), Aged and Disabled Carers (+172%), Occupational Therapists (+172%), Diversional Therapists (+146%), Physiotherapists (+128%), Psychologists (+128%), Ambulance Officers and Paramedics (+119%), Health and Welfare Services Managers (+118%), Chiropractors and Osteopaths (+114%), and Medical Laboratory Scientists (+114%).
Data Tables and Source Information
Future Employment projections data
Table 1. Jobs and Skills Australia/Victoria University Employment Projections, Healthcare and Social Assistance Industry
Table 1 notes: Data from Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections > Downloads > Victoria University Employment Projections - May 2023 to May 2033.xlsx > Industry Projections; and Detailed Industry Projections > Healthcare and Social Assistance
Table 2. Jobs and Skills Australia/Victoria University Employment Projections, selected Health and Medical Occupations
Table 2 notes: Data from Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections > Downloads > Victoria University Employment Projections - May 2023 to May 2033.xlsx > Detailed Occupation Projections > selected health and medical occupations.
Historical Employment data tables:
Table 3. Health and Medical Occupations; Employment Growth > May 2023 vs May 2024, and May 2014 vs May 2024
Table 3 notes: Data from ABS Labour Force Australia Detailed > Industry, Occupation and Sector, Quarterly (May) > EQ08 - Employed persons by Occupation unit group of main job (ANZSCO), Sex, State and Territory, August 1986 onwards (Pivot Table) > Selected Health and Medical Occupations (as in table) > May 2014; May 2023; and May 2024 data > % change calculated.
‘Health Care and Social Assistance Industry’ data sources:
ABS Labour Force Australia Detailed > Industry, Occupation and Sector, Quarterly (May) > Table 04. Employed persons by Industry division of main job (ANZSIC) - Trend, Seasonally adjusted, and Original > Health Care and Social Assistance; Employed total; May 2014 vs May 2024, and May 2023 vs May 2024.
