A recent LinkedIn study shows a significant shift in the attitudes of Australian professionals towards their careers. Despite economic uncertainties, 76% of professionals in Australia consider making a career move in 2024, which is a 15% increase compared to the previous year. Among these, IT and Telecom professionals are leading the change with 94% contemplating a job change in 2024.
LinkedIn's data indicates increased activity on its platform in Australia with a year-on-year rise of 16% in job applications for 2023 compared to 2022. Professionals are seeking opportunities beyond their current roles or industries, with 52% actively exploring new career paths. The main drivers for professional change include higher wages, accounting for 49%, and a better work-life balance, representing 33%.
However, professionals are confronting some challenges as they navigate this employment landscape. The dynamic change in required skills, largely due to rapid advancements in AI, has made it challenging for one-third (33%) of the professionals to match their skills with desired jobs. The issue becomes more pronounced within the IT and Telecom sector where 49% of workers find it difficult to match their skills to job requirements.
Job hunting too has become strenuous for professionals with 59% finding the process frustrating and 39% reporting a lack of feedback from recruiters. With increasing competition, 41% of Australian professionals are rebooting their job search strategies such as experimenting with video and digital resumes. In this scenario, AI aids half of the professionals in their job search, increasing efficiency and productivity.
LinkedIn’s Career Expert, Cayla Dengate, stated, "In 2024, we are seeing professionals taking back control and moving to the driver's seat when it comes to their careers. However, with more people looking for jobs this year, competition is going to be tough. Standing out from the crowd is now more important than ever. Investing in building your professional profile, highlighting how your skills are relevant to your desired job and staying on top of industry trends will improve your chances of finding the right opportunity.”
Dengate also informed that LinkedIn is launching two new free job features, Job Collections and Preferences, aimed at giving professionals more control and personalisation in their job search. LinkedIn has also made selected Learning Courses free till July 1, 2024, to aid professionals.
The 'Jobs on the Rise' list offered by LinkedIn identified the three fastest-growing jobs in Australia for 2024 as Cyber Security Analyst, Crime Analyst, and Workplace Specialist. A growth rate of over 57% was noted for Cyber Security Analysts. Dengate advised professionals to use these insights to make their job search more productive and efficient.
Emphasising the importance of a standout profile, network building, and identifying growth areas, Dengate offered several tips for a more efficient job hunt. LinkedIn’s new Job Collections feature can help explore the relevant jobs across different industries and companies. Dengate concluded, “Looking for a new job can be time-consuming and stressful, but tools like Preferences on LinkedIn now make it easy for you to select and manage your preferences in one place...”