Australia Skill Shortage List

Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List Skill shortages happen when employers find it hard to get staff with the right skills for the job. Knowing which jobs are in skill shortage can help you choose the best job option or decide what subjects to study. The reasons for these skill shortages can be:

  • Not enough skilled workers
  • High turnover of workers due to pay and conditions
  • Low unemployed and lack of skilled labour
  • Changes in technology of economic climate
  • Skilled workers moving away
  • Ageing workforce

In order to qualify for skilled migration to Australia, you must nominate an occupation from the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List:

Arts and Media

  • Dancer or Choreographer
  • Music Director
  • Musician (Instrumental)
  • Artistic Director
  • Cartographer

Business

  • Accountant (General)
  • Management Accountant
  • Taxation Accountant
  • External Auditor
  • Internal Auditor
  • Actuary
  • Statistician
  • Economist
  • Barrister
  • Solicitor

Construction & Infrastructure

  • Project Manager
  • Land Economist
  • Valuer
  • Management Consultant
  • Architect
  • Landscape Architect
  • Surveyor
  • Materials Engineer
  • Civil Engineer
  • Geotechnical Engineer
  • Quantity Surveyor
  • Structural Engineer
  • Sheetmetal Trades Worker
  • Metal Fabricator
  • Pressure Welder
  • Welder (First Class)
  • Fitter
  • Fitter and Turner
  • Fitter Welder
  • Metal Machinist (First Class)
  • Locksmith
  • Panelbeater
  • Bricklayer
  • Stonemason
  • Carpenter and Joiner
  • Carpenter
  • Joiner
  • Painting Trades Worker
  • Glazier Tradesperson
  • Fibrous Plasterer
  • Solid Plasterer
  • Wall and Floor Tiler
  • Plumber (General)
  • Airconditioning Mechanical Services Plumber
  • Drainer
  • Gasfitter
  • Roof Plumber
  • Electrician (General)
  • Electrician (Special Class)
  • Lift Mechanic
  • Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
  • Technical Cable Jointer
  • Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
  • Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (General)
  • Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)
  • Cabinetmaker

Education & Training

  • Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Special Needs Teacher
  • Teacher of the hearing impaired
  • Teacher of the sight impaired
  • Special education teachers nec
  • University Lecturer

Engineering

  • Engineering Manager
  • Transport Engineer
  • Electrical Engineer
  • Electronics Engineer
  • Industrial Engineer
  • Mechanical Engineer
  • Production or Plant Engineer
  • Mining Engineer (excluding Petroleum)
  • Petroleum Engineer
  • Aeronautical Engineer
  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Biomedical Engineer
  • Engineering Technologist
  • Environmental Engineer
  • Naval Architect (Aus) - Marine Designer (NZ)
  • Civil Engineering Draftsperson
  • Civil Engineering Technician
  • Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
  • Electrical Engineering Technician
  • Chemical Engineer
  • Engineering Professionals nec

Farming & Conservation

  • Agricultural Consultant
  • Agricultural Scientist
  • Forester (AUS) / Forest Scientist (NZ)
  • Chemist
  • Food Technologist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Research Scientist
  • Environmental Scientists nec
  • Geophysicist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Life Scientist (General)
  • Biochemist
  • Biotechnologist
  • Botanist
  • Marine Biologist
  • Microbiologist
  • Zoologist
  • Life Scientists nec
  • Medical Laboratory Scientist
  • Veterinarian
  • Conservator
  • Metallurgist
  • Meteorologist
  • Physicist
  • Other Spatial Scientist
  • Natural and Physical Science Professionals nec

Health & Community

  • Child Care Centre Manager
  • Nursing Clinical Director
  • Primary Health Organisation Manager
  • Welfare Centre Manager
  • Arts Administrator or Manager
  • Environmental Manager
  • Optometrist
  • Orthotist or Prosthetist
  • Chiropractor
  • Osteopath
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Podiatrist
  • Audiologist
  • Speech Pathologist
  • General Medical Practitioner
  • Specialist Physician (General Medicine)
  • Cardiologist
  • Clinical Haematologist
  • Medical Oncologist
  • Endocrinologist
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Intensive Care Specialist
  • Neurologist
  • Paediatrician
  • Renal Medicine Specialist
  • Rheumatologist
  • Thoracic Medicine Specialist
  • Specialist Physician nec
  • Psychiatrist
  • Surgeon (General)
  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon
  • Neurosurgeon
  • Orthopaedic Surgeon
  • Otorhinolaryngologist
  • Paediatric Surgeon
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
  • Urologist
  • Vascular Surgeon
  • Dermatologist
  • Emergency Medicine Specialist
  • Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
  • Ophthalmologist
  • Pathologist
  • Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist
  • Radiation Oncologist
  • Medical Practitioners nec
  • Midwife
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
  • Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)
  • Registered Nurse (Community Health)
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)
  • Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)
  • Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical)
  • Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative)
  • Registered Nurse (Surgical)
  • Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)
  • Registered Nurse nec
  • Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
  • Medical Radiation Therapist
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist
  • Sonographer
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Organisational Psychologist
  • Psychologists nec
  • Social Worker
  • Clinical Psychologist

Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation

  • Chef
  • Horse Trainer
  • Boat Builder and Repairer
  • Shipwright
  • Tennis Coach
  • Footballer

Software & Telecoms

  • ICT Business Analyst
  • Systems Analyst
  • Multimedia Specialist
  • Analyst Programmer
  • Developer Programmer
  • Software Engineer
  • Software and Applications Programmer nec
  • ICT Security Specialist
  • Computer Network and Systems Engineer
  • Telecommunications Engineer
  • Telecommunications Network Engineer
  • Radiocommunications Technician
  • Telecommunications Field Engineer
  • Telecommunications Network Planner
  • Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist

Transport & Logistics

  • Automotive Electrician
  • Motor Mechanic (General)
  • Diesel Motor Mechanic
  • Motorcycle Mechanic
  • Small Engine Mechanic