This is the latest from Jobs and Skills Australia on recruitment. Without stating it, the writing suggests recessionary influences are hitting the labour market. I have added a section for international applicants who are seeking work in Adelaide.
The latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook survey shows online job boards remain the most widely used and successful recruitment method in Australia, with more than half of employers using them and around 40% reporting they led to a successful hire.
While many employers rely on a single recruitment approach, those facing hiring difficulties are far more likely to use multiple methods to expand their applicant pool.
Informal recruitment methods also continue to achieve relatively high success rates, with word of mouth and direct approaches by job seekers achieving strong results across many occupations and regions.
Higher-skilled roles are more commonly advertised online and often require multiple recruitment strategies, while lower-skilled roles are frequently filled through informal or low-cost channels.
Recruitment patterns also vary by location, with city employers favouring online methods and regional employers relying more on social media and personal networks.
For job seekers, using a mix of search strategies, including proactive outreach, remains one of the most effective ways to secure employment.
In September, recruitment activity remained strongest in Accommodation and Food Services, where two-thirds of employers (66%) were recruiting.
Recruitment difficulties were most pronounced in Manufacturing (58%) and Construction (56%), suggesting ongoing hiring challenges in parts of the goods-producing sector.
Despite maintaining the highest staffing intentions (32%), employers in Accommodation and Food Services were less likely to expect staff growth than a year ago (down 10 percentage points).
Recruitment challenges remained most acute for technicians and trades workers. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of employers recruiting for these occupations reported difficulty filling positions, while 60% reported vacancies remaining unfilled for more than one month. This was the highest result across all major occupation groups on both measures.
This is from Philled, a work platform aimed more for international applicants. I can’t verify the details below but worth investigating. If you are applying for jobs in Adelaide, note the employment landscape is very different from the capitals in the eastern states. I highly recommend doing research.
Popular industries hiring in Adelaide
The most popular industries hiring are those that have consistent funding, are scaling or face ongoing talent shortages.
Health, aged care, and community services
This remains one of the strongest pillars of employment in Adelaide, with roles spanning clinical work, allied health, disability support, admin, rostering, and program coordination.
- Registered/Enrolled Nurses, AINs
- Aged care and disability support workers
- Physiotherapists, OTs, speech pathologists
- Practice managers, medical receptionists
Defence, advanced manufacturing, and engineering
Adelaide continues to benefit from defence related activity and a broader advanced manufacturing ecosystem. If you’re exploring career change opportunities Adelaide, short courses in project coordination, CAD, drafting, QA, WHS, or supply chain may be viable bridges.
Mechanical/electrical engineering
Project management and scheduling
Quality assurance, compliance, safety
Procurement and supply chain
If you are an international, check that your qualifications are recognised in Australia.
Construction, infrastructure, and trades
Skilled trades and on-site roles continue to be strong, while support positions like estimating, contract administration, and site coordination are usually open to people who can show they have transferable skills.
Note though a general decline in general construction positions across Australia.
Government, education, and public administration
Many job seekers often compare public and private sector positions in Adelaide. The public sector typically provides stability, well defined pay scales, and a clear advancement path. On the other hand, private sector jobs can often be quicker paced and offer higher pay for in demand skills. A smart approach is to apply to both sectors and customise your application to suit each.
But note if you come from a public service background, it can be hard to break into the corporate sector.
Tech, cyber, and data
Tech hiring remains competitive, but there’s still a strong need for professionals focused on security, data analysis, cloud support, and roles that interact with business, such as business analysts and product operations. It’s important to showcase portfolios and provide practical examples of your work.