Australia has become a dream destination for many international students to pursue their higher studies as well as work in Australia post-completion of their education. Working in Australia is an attractive proposition for many reasons:
- The country has an amazingly stable economy and a vibrant job market.
- The average pay scale in Australia is way higher than the global norms.
- The multicultural work environment and overall work culture is appealing to many.
Australia’s well-disposed post-graduate work visa along with its large number of industries only add to the fact as to why Australia is such a great place to work. If you have done your master’s in Australia or you are planning to do so, this article will give you an overview of some of the opportunities that are available in different sectors.
Requirements for getting a job in Australia
Before we discuss the job opportunities in Australia, let us first talk about the basic requirements that international students need to meet to find a job in Australia.
- You should have a degree from an Australian university or any other esteemed university recognised in Australia.
- You should have excellent English language skills. Most jobs require international candidates to prove their proficiency in the language through IELTS or TOEFL scores.
- Make sure you have a compelling resume. Each country has a different CV format that is commonly used and widely accepted. Stick to the format.
- International students, apart from New-Zealand citizens, need to have a valid work permit visa.
Types of Work permit for International students
Please note that you are required to have a work permit to be gainfully employed in Australia.
- Student visa Subclass 500 - This type of visa allows you to work for 40 hours per fortnight, during your graduate studies in Australia.
- Work permit 485 (skilled graduate temporary) visa - This type of visa allows you to work from 18 months to 3 years in Australia.
- 402 training and research visa
- 886 skilled sponsor resident visa - The employer sponsors this type of work visa after they hire you.
Careers with excellent job opportunities in Australia
Look out for an ideal job that suits your profile in some of the fields mentioned here. This list of ten fastest growing industries in the country is comprehensive for job seekers, as it encompasses details of average pay in each sector as well. According to the national reports, these sectors have the best employment growth projections for the coming year.
1. Finance and Accounting
As the average number of companies in Australia is rapidly increasing, so is the demand for accountants. This job currently comes under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). If you have a graduate degree in either core accountancy or professional accounting from Australia, the chances of you getting a full-time job and a work visa are relatively high. This is especially true if you already have some work experience in the field.
Salary range : AU$43000-AU$81000
2. Agricultural Sciences
Agriculture and other closely related sectors contribute to around 12% of Australias national GDP. This means that there is a considerable amount of career opportunities for candidates with a master’s degree in Agricultural Science-related fields such as environmental studies, agronomy, forestry consultants and agricultural sciences.
Salary range : AU$42,000 and AU$49,000
3. Architecture
Agriculture and other closely related sectors contribute to around 12% of Australias national GDP. This means that there is a considerable amount of career opportunities for candidates with a master’s degree in Agricultural Science-related fields such as environmental studies, agronomy, forestry consultants and agricultural sciences.
Salary range : $88,440 per year
4. Core Engineering
Graduates with a degree in core engineering fields such as Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Mechanical, etc., have excellent job opportunities as there is a dearth of technically-qualified engineers in Australia. With a significant rise in infrastructure projects, civil engineers are in huge demand across the entire nation. Since engineers come under the Skilled Occupation List ( SOL), they also have an opportunity to procure permanent residence (PR).
Salary range : $95,373
5. Earth sciences and related fields
Australia is a prominent exporter of global liquefied natural gas (LNG). The need for professionals with specialisations in Earth Science-related fields such as petroleum engineering geology, mining and metallurgy is quite high.
Salary range : AU$91,215
6. Computer Science and IT industry
Many international IT companies, such as IBM, Google, Canon, etc., are building their software development facilities in Australia. This has led to ample job openings for graduates from Computer Science and the IT industry. Fields such as Machine Learning, Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, Data Management and Software development are especially in huge demand.
Salary range : AU$55000 to AU$165000
7. Management Roles
Pursuing an MBA degree from Australian Universities opens doors to many lucrative careers options. You can either choose to work in a corporate sector in the role of a Business Consultant, Business Development Manager, Finance Manager, General Manager, Marketing Manager, or Product Manager, or be an Entrepreneur and start your own business. An MBA graduate can easily find a job in any industry in the particular field the student has specialised in.
Salary range : AU$65,000 to AU$100,000
8. Healthcare and Medicine
According to National statistics, the healthcare sector has the most substantial employment rate in Australia. Qualified doctors in Australia are in high demand as like any other country providing good healthcare is vital to treat the country’s ailing population. Conventional doctors with specialisation and super-specialisations find employment opportunities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and can even start their own practice. Apart from conventional healthcare, there is also an increasing demand for young medical professionals/healthcare workers to render care for the ageing population. This has led to a massive demand for fresh graduates in medicine and healthcare professionals in Australia. Healthcare workers find employment opportunities in conventional as well as unconventional roles of a Clinical or Hospital administrator, veterinarian, nurse, dentist, paramedic, physician, psychiatrist and pharmacist.
An experienced doctor in Australia earns anywhere between $100,000 to $400,000 per year, subject to his/her specialisation.
Salary range : AU$65000- AU$110,000
9. Tourism and Hospitality Management
In 2019, ten million tourists visited Australia contributing a record-breaking 44.6 billion dollars to the Australian Economy. According to a recent survey, Australia will need at least 125,000 more tourism-related graduates per year to meet this massive demand in tourist hospitality.
Salary range : AU$36,000 and AU$135,000
10. Manufacturing and Retail Trade
The manufacturing and retail trade sector are the second most in-demand occupation in Australia. Employment in this sector is expected to grow by 3.7% over the next five years. Although recruiters in this industry do not prioritise academic qualifications, the option of doing part-time work with better flexibility is enticing to international master’s students.
Average salaries vary greatly depending on the exact job position you are applying for.
Conclusion
Finding the ideal job befitting your profile along with a competitive pay, is the dream of every graduate student, especially after receiving a master’s degree from Australia. This article analyses the scope and job opportunities each industrial sector offers for international students who are pursuing their Master’s degrees in Australia or have already completed their studies.
