As technology, policy, priorities and population rapidly evolve, so too do the skills shaping Australia's workforce. Research by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) reveals the most sought-after transferable skills for today’s job market—and the good news is they’re valuable across a wide range of industries.
Wondering which workplace skills will get you hired in the years ahead? Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has named the top five. Continue reading to find out more.
Future-proof skills to elevate your resume
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Interpersonal skills are essential across every Australian industry, from Education and Training to Construction. Whether you're aiming to advance your career or enter the workforce with confidence, having the right transferable skills is key to success in any field. Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest report highlights the current, emerging and future in-demand skills, grouped into the Five C’s:
Care skills
Computer skills
Cognitive skills
Communication skills
Climate skills
In this article, we break down the most sought-after employability skills and share postgraduate study options to help you develop them. From short, flexible programs that let you upskill quickly to in-depth, specialised master’s degrees—you can personalise the path to help you take the next step in your career.
Align your interests with your career goals
- Compassion
- Technology
- Innovation
- Communication
- Sustainability
Care skills
Related skills
- Communication
- Patience
- Empathy
- Resolution
- Social
- Medical
- Psychological
- Support
- Therapies
- Community
- Diversity
- Health
Driven by an ageing population and shifting healthcare needs, the Disability & Aged Care and Health Care & Social Assistance sectors are projected to experience strong job growth over the next five years. That’s why the ability to care for individuals and support communities is not just valuable—it can be pivotal in building a future-proof career.
Care skills cover a wide range of transferable capabilities, from patient and customer care to emotional support and communication. And their value isn’t limited to the health sector—industries like Accommodation and Food Services, Education and Training, and Administrative and Support Services are also seeking professionals with these strengths. Building even a few of these skills can unlock diverse and rewarding career pathways across multiple fields.
Postgraduate study focused on caring for others
Whether you're looking to build foundational skills, deepen your expertise in a specialised area or step into leadership—you can choose a pathway that aligns with your current role, future goals and professional needs.
Computer skills
Related skills
- ICT
- Systems
- Websites
- Data
- Media
- Software
- Network
- Engineering
- Programs
- Security
- Video
- Design
The ability to not just operate technology, but to harness it for digital and business innovation, is highly sought after in today’s job market. With strong employment growth projected in areas such as software programming, database and systems administration and organisational analysis, there are diverse and promising career opportunities for those with advanced computing skills.
These transferable digital skills are increasingly valued across all industries, driven by the growing digitisation of workplaces and the broader economy.
Postgraduate study focused on computing
Whether you're looking to build foundational skills, deepen your expertise in a specialised area or step into leadership—you can choose a pathway that aligns with your current role, future goals and professional needs.
Cognitive skills
Related skills
- Resolution
- Management
- Analyse
- Communicate
- Impact
- Inclusion
- Research
- Design
- Network
- Dispute
- Develop
- Scientific
As automation and digitisation reshape the workforce, there’s growing demand for roles that can't be easily replicated by machines. These roles rely on high-level cognitive and interpersonal skills—such as creativity, problem-solving, and communication—that remain uniquely human and difficult to automate.
Industries that are less susceptible to automation include Teaching and Education, Arts and Entertainment Production and Human Resources. However, it’s important to note that within every industry, there are roles that require varying degrees of cognitive ability.
Postgraduate study focused on cognitive development
Whether you're looking to build foundational skills, deepen your expertise in a specialised area or step into leadership—you can choose a pathway that aligns with your current role, future goals and professional needs.
Communication skills
Related skills
- Community
- Support
- Network
- Resolution
- Management
- Collaborate
- Inclusion
- Social
- Diversity
- Operate
In today’s increasingly diverse and collaborative workplaces, the ability to communicate effectively, solve problems, listen actively, and share different perspectives is more important than ever. As organisations focus on inclusion, connection, and team performance, these human-centred skills are becoming key drivers of both business success and employee satisfaction.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the communication skill cluster is projected to see the largest growth of any skill group, with an additional 1.4 million hours worked per week by 2026. These transferable skills are essential across all industries and sectors, with businesses, communities, and policy decisions all depending on effective communication.
Postgraduate study focused on communication
Whether you're looking to build foundational skills, deepen your expertise in a specialised area or step into leadership—you can choose a pathway that aligns with your current role, future goals and professional needs.
Climate Skills
Related skills
- Sustainability
- Design
- Environmental
- Engineering
- Resources
- Impact
- Resolution
- Care
- Human
- Diversity
Climate skills enable individuals to understand how the workforce and broader economy interact with the environment and to propose innovative, sustainable solutions. These skills are critical to helping Australia meet its target of achieving a net zero carbon economy.
As businesses and organisations place a greater emphasis on building sustainable and inclusive frameworks, expertise in areas like environmental impact, climate policy and sustainable design is in high demand. These capabilities are particularly valued in industries such as engineering, agriculture, and public administration and safety.
Postgraduate study focused on sustainability
Whether you're looking to build foundational skills, deepen your expertise in a specialised area or step into leadership—you can choose a pathway that aligns with your current role, future goals and professional needs.
Invest in your future career and upskill with UNSW postgraduate study
Adapting to the future of work isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about getting ahead. As industries transform, those who actively invest in their growth will be best positioned to thrive. At UNSW, you’ll find postgraduate study options that do more than teach skills—they prepare you to lead change, drive impact and confidently navigate the challenges of tomorrow. Now is the time to future-proof your career and take the next step.
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