FACTBase Bulletin 79 - The Western Australian and Greater Perth Workforce Past Trends and Future Projections

The Committee for Perth is pleased to release our 79th FACTBase Bulletin, the second of three research reports in our Race to the Top major project.

This Bulletin identifies projected industry employment growth and occupation demand to November 2025 in Western Australia and Greater Perth while also examining the future composition and availability of workers to meet these demands.

The Committee's Race to the Top project aims to address immediate labour and skill shortages and prepare the workforce to meet future industry demand.

Key Findings Include:

• Over the five years from November 2020 to November 2025, Greater Perth is projected to experience growth in several industries, with the top five being health care and social assistance, mining, education and training, professional, scientific and technical services, and accommodation and food services.
• Occupations projected to experience the strongest demand over the five years from November 2020 to November 2025 are professionals and community and personal service workers. Occupations with the largest projected growth are those that require Skill Level 1 (bachelor’s degree or above) and Skill Level 4 (certificate II or III).
• Gender differences in industries and occupations in the Western Australian labour market will play an important role in the future labour supply. Jobs in mining will predominantly be filled by men, while jobs in health care and social assistance, education and training, and accommodation and food services are expected to be filled by women.
• The difference in gender representation is also observed in universities, vocational education and training, and apprenticeships and traineeships. Men are highly represented in information technology and engineering and related studies, while women are highly represented in health, and education and training.
• Employment concentration in various occupations and industries also differs across geographical locations within the Greater Perth region. Future employment growth in certain industries and occupations is likely to be met by workers residing in specific geographical areas.
• The supply of overseas workers to Western Australia in the next five years is likely to be met via temporary visas. Access to temporary skilled visa holders will depend on the skilled migration occupation lists, international and state border restrictions, and visa processing priorities.
• At the national level, certain industries are expected to face ageing effects, for example, agriculture, forestry and fishing, education and training, and health care and social assistance. Over the next five years, these industries may lose experienced older workers as the latter transition into retirement.