A recent analysis by KPMG has identified significant shifts in Australia's occupational structure between 2014 and 2024, highlighting the growing prominence of care economy and technology-related roles while several traditional occupations decline. The report reveals that Aged and Disabled Care Workers have seen the largest increase in numbers over the past decade, nearly doubling to reach 429,400 workers, marking a 98% growth. Additionally, Early Childhood and Child Care jobs, along with Allied Health Worker roles, have also expanded substantially in response to changing demographics and increased participation of women in the workforce.
According to KPMG Urban Economist Terry Rawnsley, "The surge in care economy occupations reflects a jobs market responding to Australia's changing demographics. As the older Baby Boomers enter their late 70s and early 80s, the need to rapidly expand aged care and related health services grows stronger. Meanwhile, increased participation of women in the workforce has meant the demand for childcare has similarly increased over the last decade." Rawnsley noted that governments are already investing heavily in the aged care, disability support, and childcare sectors to meet future expected demand.
The analysis indicates that the workforce of Tech and IT Professionals has also experienced significant growth, expanding by 176,400 workers, or 55%, over the decade to now number 497,300. These professionals, which include Software Programmers, Systems Administrators, and IT Security Specialists, are crucial in designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software applications that drive the digital infrastructure behind essential services like online banking and shopping.
Rawnsley elaborated, "Many of these professionals also support IT systems across a range of non-tech businesses within the economy, so it isn't all just about the glamorous end of tech development." Other professions among the fastest growing include Marketing, Advertising, and PR Professionals, which increased by 40.9%, and Human Resources Professionals, which rose by 41.2%.
The overall number of workers in Australia has increased by 22.9%, from 11.4 million in 2014 to 14 million in 2024, with the top ten growing occupational groupings accounting for over one million new roles, close to 40% of all employment growth. However, KPMG's research also identified several occupations experiencing sharp declines, reflecting broader technological and structural changes within the economy.
The number of Executive Assistants has dropped by more than 20% to 82,300 due to the automation of administrative functions. Travel Agents have been particularly affected by the rise of online travel websites, with numbers falling by nearly 35% since 2014. Other professions facing declines include Farmers (-13.3%), Print Manufacturing Workers (-23%), and Telecommunications Repair and Installation Workers (-12.4%).
Rawnsley stated, "While traditional roles are naturally impacted by the digital transformation occurring in the workplace, tech sector growth opens up a vast array of exciting new jobs." In technology roles specifically, there have been pronounced increases across several subfields over the past decade. For instance, the number of ICT Managers rose by nearly 80% to 77,400, while Software and Applications Programmers increased by 76.3% to 172,600. ICT Support and Test Engineering roles grew by 97.3%, and Database, Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists climbed 60.2% to 65,700.
Other tech positions, such as ICT Business and Systems Analysts and Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers, also recorded strong growth. KPMG's data further highlights the influence of technology on traditional roles. The number of bank branch workers declined from 55,400 in 2014 to 46,900 in 2024, following a decrease in cash transactions at branches. Keyboard Operators, which include Data Entry and Typist roles, dropped by 18% over the decade to 52,000.
Despite these shifts, retail-related positions remain the most common in 2024, with 793,900 shop floor workers. Other large employing occupational groupings include Food Service Workers (356,100), Nurses and Midwives (383,500), Teachers (384,800), and Accountants and Bookkeepers (442,800).
The size and growth of the Tech and IT Professional sector, now among the largest single occupational groups, emphasize the increasing relevance of tech skills and white-collar work in the evolving jobs market. KPMG's analysis uses data from the Australian Tax Office, Census, Labour Force Surveys, and Jobs & Skills Australia to provide estimates of occupational trends. The report underlines the extent to which demographic changes, government investment, and technological transformation have shaped Australia's labour market over the past decade.
In parallel, innovation policy analysts indicate that Australia stands at a pivotal crossroads in its innovation journey. The nation’s future prosperity will depend increasingly on digital solutions rather than traditional industries. Computer and information services (CIS) — which encompass software development and data analytics — are already a major pillar of the Australian economy.
As global competition intensifies, Australia must evaluate whether it is doing enough to secure its place as a leader in the digital space. The CIS sector's employment growth consistently outpaces traditional industries, creating high-value knowledge jobs critical to Australia’s economic future. This sector's direct impact is visible through thriving homegrown tech companies like Atlassian and Canva, which attract talent and investment, positioning Australia as a regional leader in digital innovation.
However, Australia’s tech ecosystem suffers from a fundamental imbalance that limits its CIS potential. Despite hosting over 7,000 local software development firms, much of the most valuable work, like product development and advanced R&D, occurs offshore. Encouragingly, the economic calculus is shifting, and the narrowing historical cost disadvantage creates a strategic opportunity for Australia to recapture higher-value technology activities.
Yet, without intervention, the digital skills gap is projected to widen, potentially constraining growth across the entire CIS sector. Australia’s research base in computer science and information technology is competitive globally, but translating research discoveries into commercial applications faces significant delays, limiting economic benefits.
As Australia positions itself for the future global economy, the National Interest Framework would be strengthened by recognizing software development and digital platforms as foundational capabilities essential for success in every priority sector. Without addressing this digital dimension, Australia risks building yesterday’s industries with outdated tools while competing against economies that have fully integrated digital capabilities into their strategies. The opportunity is clear: a Future Made in Australia must be built on digital foundations.
