Trying to choose a career can feel a little ridiculous when half the jobs you’ll be doing in 10 years might not even exist yet.
AI is changing how we work. Australia’s population is growing and ageing. We’re building new energy, water and transport infrastructure. Healthcare needs more people. And somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re supposed to work out what you want to do after school.
The good news? Australia is expected to add almost 2 million jobs by 2035, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. And while some of the fastest-growing careers are exactly where you’d expect them to be (hello, AI), plenty aren’t.
We’ve analysed the latest data and trends so you don’t have to, and pulled together eight of Australia’s fastest-growing jobs.
1. AI Engineer
Okay, we’ll get the obvious one out of the way.
AI Engineer was named Australia’s fastest-growing job for 2026 by LinkedIn, based on job growth over the previous three years.
AI Engineers design and build systems that use artificial intelligence to do things like analyse data, recognise patterns, make predictions and automate tasks.
And businesses aren’t just playing around with AI anymore. More are building it into their products, services and everyday operations, which means they need people who know how to make the technology work.
How do you become an AI Engineer?
There isn’t one compulsory qualification you need to become an AI Engineer.
In fact, LinkedIn found that people moving into these roles most commonly come from jobs like Software Engineer, Data Scientist and Data Engineer, so it’s often something people specialise in after building broader tech skills first.
For school leavers, good options include degrees in artificial intelligence, computer science, software engineering or data science.
There are dedicated AI degrees now too. UTS offers a three-year Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence, while Deakin also offers a three-year Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence. At Monash, you can complete a Bachelor of Computer Science with an Artificial Intelligence specialisation.
And you don’t have to wait until uni to start. Learning to code, building small projects and getting comfortable with areas like Python, machine learning and generative AI can all help you start building the skills used in the field.
2. Physiotherapist
Helping people move, recover and stay active is set to become an even bigger part of Australia’s workforce.
Jobs and Skills Australia projects employment for Physiotherapists to grow by 33.6% between 2025 and 2035, making it one of the strongest-growing professional occupations in the country.
Physios work everywhere from hospitals and private clinics to sports clubs, rehabilitation centres and aged care. They might help someone recover from surgery, manage an injury, improve their mobility or make it back onto the footy field.
How do you become a Physiotherapist?
If you’re coming straight from school, the most direct route is an approved undergraduate physiotherapy degree, usually taking four years.
For example, Monash University’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) and the University of Queensland’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) both take four years full-time. Curtin’s Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) (Honours) is another four-year option and includes 1,100 hours of supervised placement.
There are approved courses at universities around Australia, so it’s worth comparing entry requirements, locations and placements rather than only looking at one option. Ahpra publishes the official list of approved physiotherapy programs.
3. Dental Assistant
Dental assisting probably isn’t the first career that comes to mind when you think about healthcare.
But employment for Dental Assistants is projected to grow by 26.8% by 2035, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
Dental Assistants work alongside dentists and other oral health professionals, preparing equipment, assisting during procedures, looking after patients, sterilising instruments and helping keep clinics running.
And unlike plenty of healthcare careers, you don’t need to spend four years at university to get started.
How do you become a Dental Assistant?
There’s no national requirement to hold a formal qualification before working as a Dental Assistant.
One of the most common study options is the Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35021).
At Chisholm TAFE in Victoria, for example, the course involves six months of full-time study plus 350 hours of practical placement. There’s also a traineeship version where you complete the qualification while working in a dental practice.
The Certificate III is offered by TAFEs and registered training providers around Australia, so check what’s available in your state.
4. Paramedic
If your ideal workday involves sitting quietly at the same desk from 9 to 5, perhaps keep scrolling.
Jobs and Skills Australia projects employment for Ambulance Officers and Paramedics to grow by 22.6% by 2035.
Paramedics respond to emergencies, assess patients, provide treatment and make some pretty important decisions, often without much time to make them.
How do you become a Paramedic?
This one’s fairly straightforward. You’ll generally need to complete an approved paramedicine degree, and many undergraduate courses take three years.
For example, Monash University’s Bachelor of Paramedicine takes three years full-time and includes up to 60 days of placement across ambulance services, hospitals and other clinical and community settings.
Approved undergraduate paramedicine courses are also available through universities around Australia, including La Trobe, Victoria University, Western Sydney University, Griffith, Flinders, Edith Cowan and others. You can check the current Ahpra list of approved paramedicine courses.
5. Aged and Disability Carer
Australia already has more than 376,000 Aged and Disabled Carers, and the occupation added around 27,100 workers in the latest year measured by Jobs and Skills Australia.
They help older people and people with disability with everyday activities, mobility, personal care, getting out into the community and living as independently as possible.
The work can happen in residential aged care, disability services, community care or directly in someone’s home.
How do you become an Aged or Disability Carer?
You don’t need a university degree.
A common starting point is the Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021), which can include specialisations in Ageing, Disability, or both.
For example, TAFE Queensland’s Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) includes 120 hours of vocational placement and can be studied through different delivery options, including traineeships in some locations.
Similar qualifications are available through TAFEs and other registered training providers across Australia.
6. Power Systems Engineer
Possibly not a job title you’ve heard thrown around at the dinner table.
But as Australia changes how it generates, stores and moves electricity, somebody has to work out how to keep all of it running.
Power Systems Engineer is one of the roles on LinkedIn’s 2026 Jobs on the Rise list. These engineers work with the systems used to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, including renewable energy and the networks connecting it all together.
Think power stations, transmission lines, substations, solar farms, wind farms, batteries and the grid.
So yes, there’s a little more happening behind your phone charger than plugging it into the wall.
How do you become a Power Systems Engineer?
You probably won’t find many undergraduate degrees called “Bachelor of Power Systems Engineering”.
The more common route is a four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical Engineering, then building specialist knowledge in areas like power systems, energy and electricity networks.
For example, UNSW’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical) takes four years and includes subjects such as electrical energy and power system analysis, as well as 60 days of engineering professional practice.
When comparing degrees, it’s worth checking whether the course is accredited by Engineers Australia and what energy or power-system subjects you’ll be able to take. Engineers Australia maintains a searchable list of accredited engineering courses.
7. Nursing Support and Personal Care Worker
Not every fast-growing healthcare career involves becoming a doctor, nurse or physio.
Jobs and Skills Australia projects employment for Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers to grow by 24.7% by 2035, putting it among the fastest-growing community and personal service occupations in Australia.
These workers support patients in hospitals, health services and community settings. That can include helping people move around, eat, shower and dress, supporting rehabilitation exercises and assisting nurses and other health professionals.
There are currently around 110,400 people working in these roles across Australia.
How do you get into it?
The qualification you need depends on the exact job.
For many hospital-based support roles, a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance is a common option. TAFE Queensland currently offers the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, including study options for people looking to work in patient care and support roles.
Other roles may use qualifications such as the Certificate III in Individual Support, so it’s worth checking the requirements of the jobs you’re interested in before choosing a course.
8. Accountant
Wait. Weren’t robots supposed to take this one?
Apparently nobody told the Australian job market.
There are around 215,500 Accountants working in Australia, with the occupation adding another 5,800 workers over the latest year measured by Jobs and Skills Australia.
Accounting isn’t just typing numbers into spreadsheets.
Accountants work across tax, auditing, financial reporting, budgeting, risk, business strategy and financial decision-making. And they work pretty much everywhere.
Sport. Fashion. Banks. Government. Tech companies. Mining. Your favourite food brand. Someone has to know where the money went.
How do you become an Accountant?
The traditional route is a Bachelor of Accounting, Commerce or Business, usually choosing subjects that meet the requirements of a professional accounting body such as Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
But university straight after school isn’t the only way in.
CA ANZ’s CA Fundamentals pathway is designed for recent school leavers who want to combine working in accounting with structured study. To enter the pathway, you need to be working with an approved or recognised training employer.
And there are employers offering exactly that. BDO’s High School Leavers Program gives recent Year 12 graduates the chance to start a permanent full-time accounting career while completing the CA Fundamentals pathway. Applications for its 2027 intake are currently open.
So if accounting interests you, it’s worth comparing the university and school-leaver routes before deciding which one makes more sense for you.
What does all of this mean for you?
Firstly, don’t choose a career purely because someone told you it’s growing.
You’re the one who has to get up and do it every day.
But looking at where jobs are growing can help you discover careers you didn’t know existed, see which industries are going to need more people and understand the different ways you can get into them.
And there are a lot more options than the eight above.
Explore careers, industries, employers and opportunities across Australia with Explore Careers.
