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Work in Australia

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With its robust economy, English-speaking workforce, and year-round sunshine, Australia consistently ranks as one of the most desirable destinations for people seeking new opportunities abroad

If you're considering a move to Australia, you'll be joining a huge number of people - over a million Brits already live and work there, and Australia is consistently a top destination for expats.

Australia's job market is strong, with low unemployment rates. The country's cities are renowned for their high quality of life. Brisbane is the top Australian city according to Numbeo's Quality of Life Index by City 2025, followed by Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne. In addition, Australia offers some of the highest graduate salaries globally.

While securing a work visa can be challenging, the rewards are significant. You could start your career in a thriving economy and enjoy a laid-back lifestyle.

At three million square miles, Australia is vast, with a mix of cosmopolitan cities, stunning national parks, and breathtaking coastal locations. Make sure you set aside time to visit iconic attractions like the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach, go snorkelling or diving at the Great Barrier Reef, and explore the incredible landscapes of the Outback.

Jobs in Australia

The services sector is the biggest player in Australia's economy, but agriculture and tourism are also huge, especially in busy cities and popular travel spots. If you're on the hunt for a graduate job, you'll see plenty of openings in finance, marketing, and technology in big cities like:

  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Canberra
  • Melbourne
  • Perth
  • Sydney.

That said, rural areas also offer plenty of opportunities. Head out to the countryside, and you'll find seasonal jobs in farming or hospitality - ideal if you're looking to mix work with some travel.

If you're wondering where the demand is, here are some of the biggest and fastest-growing sectors:

  • Health care and social assistance - 2.31 million workers
  • Construction - 1.38 million workers
  • Retail - 1.33 million workers
  • Professional, scientific and technical services - 1.28 million workers
  • Education and training - 1.26 million workers.

For the latest updates, check Jobs and Skills Australia - Occupation and industry profiles.

Graduates in Australia usually have low unemployment rates, higher salaries, and better job prospects compared to non-graduates.

Popular graduate jobs

  • Agriculture
  • Chemicals
  • Food processing
  • Industrial and transportation equipment
  • Mining
  • Steel.

According to Prosple Australia's Top 100 Graduate Employers Guide 2025, some of the best places to kick-start your career include:

  • Canva
  • Capgemini
  • L'Oreal
  • NAB Australia
  • Optiver
  • Rio Tinto.

If you're backpacking through Australia on a Working Holiday visa, casual work is usually easy to find - ask around, check local ads, or rely on word-of-mouth.

If you're thinking of staying long-term, you'll likely need to get sponsored by an employer under the Labour Agreement Stream.

Jobs are often advertised in national and local newspapers, and recruitment agencies can also help you land a suitable role. Popular job sites include:

Skills shortages

Australia relies heavily on skilled workers from overseas, and to keep track of where the gaps are, the government regularly publishes the Jobs and Skills Australia - Occupation shortage list.

Some roles heavily in demand include:

  • Engineering - Australia is experiencing its greatest-ever engineering skills shortage, with more than 50,000 engineers needed.
  • Healthcare professionals - the country needs more than 50,000 registered nurses and 54,000 aged-care workers.
  • IT and engineering specialists - shortages are so significant that nearly three-quarters of employers are hiring talent from overseas.
  • Sustainability roles - the demand for specialised jobs is outpacing the supply of trained workers, with an estimated 194,000 workers needed by 2030.
  • Teachers - at least 4,000 more teachers are needed to meet rising demand, particularly in regional areas.
  • Trades - up to 60% of trade roles are currently unfilled, and by 2030, an extra 32,000 electricians will be needed.

It's not just these fields though - about a third of all occupations in Australia are facing shortages, which impacts nearly five million jobs nationwide.

Skills shortages mean strong demand for qualified professionals, so if your degree or training lines up with one of these fields, you'll have an edge in landing jobs, securing visas, and building a long-term career in Australia.

How to get a job in Australia

Applying for jobs in Australia is similar to applying in the UK. Most roles require you to send a CV and cover letter or complete an online application form.

Speculative applications can also work well - just make sure you tailor your CV and cover letter to each employer.

There are plenty of ways to find opportunities:

  • Networking is another key part of the Australian job market. Whether it's through professional associations, careers events, or industry meetups, making connections can open doors to roles that aren't always advertised.
  • Popular job search platforms such as Adzuna, CareerOne, and LinkedIn are used across the country.
  • Recruitment agencies can also be helpful, particularly if you're looking for roles in a specialist field.

You can also explore specialist job boards that focus on particular industries or types of work:

When applying, keep in mind that Australian CVs are usually short, clear, and focused on results. Cover letters are expected, and they should show both why you're qualified and why you're interested in the role and the organisation.

If your qualifications are from overseas, you may need to have them assessed by the Australian Education International (AEI) or the relevant professional body for your role.

The interview process is also very familiar. You might be interviewed over the phone, via video call, or in person, and employers tend to focus on outcomes. Be prepared to talk about your achievements and give clear examples of how you've made an impact in previous roles.

Employers also value transferable skills, so be ready to explain how your experience lines up with Australian standards.

In some cases, it may even be possible to secure a job in Australia before you arrive. If you're working for a multinational company with offices in Australia, you could apply for an internal transfer. However, for most graduate roles, it's an advantage to already be in the country with the correct visa before you start applying.

Summer jobs

If you're on a Working Holiday visa and aged 18 to 35, you can take on casual, seasonal, or temporary work in Australia. Summer (December to February) is peak time for short-term jobs, so it's a great opportunity to earn money while experiencing life Down Under.

Popular summer roles include:

  • agriculture - on farms, ranches, or picking fruit in Queensland and Victoria.
  • hospitality - cafés, bars, and restaurants in cities like Sydney and Melbourne
  • retail - especially around the Christmas season
  • sports - work as sports instructors or tour guides at the Coast or in the Blue Mountains
  • tourism and events - holiday resorts, festivals, and theme parks on the Gold Coast.

If you're heading to Australia on a Working Holiday visa, you'll need to show you have enough money to support yourself when you first arrive. You should have at least AUD $5,000 (£2,425) in savings to cover your initial costs, plus the funds for a return flight.

You can manage your working holiday on your own, or you can work with a private provider who can help you with everything from finding a job to arranging your visa and accommodation.

Search for working holiday programmes at:

While short-term positions are common for working holiday makers, it's worth staying aware of past reports of exploitation and sticking to reputable employers.

Fruit-pickers must be paid at least AUD $25.41 (£12.33) per hour, and the national minimum wage is AUD $24.95 (£12.11) per hour. Casual employees also receive 'casual loading' compensation for the lack of job security, bringing the minimum hourly rate to AUD $30.13 (£14.61). More specialised positions, such as tutoring, can allow you to earn up to AUD $60 per hour (£29.10).

Teaching jobs

Australia is facing a significant teacher shortage, with an estimated need for an additional 23,000 teachers by 2034.

The need for secondary and early childhood educators is so great that these jobs are on the country's skilled occupation shortage list. This could make you eligible for a skilled migration visa, helping fast-track your move to Australia.

Most opportunities are in regional and remote areas, where schools are actively seeking qualified teachers.

Schools across Australia are particularly interested in teachers who specialise in:

  • early childhood education
  • science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subjects
  • special needs education
  • vocational education (VET).

To teach in an Australian school, you'll need to meet a few key requirements. While there might be slight variations between states and territories, these are the general standards:

  • English language proficiency - you can prove your English skills by either having at least four years of higher education in an English-speaking country or by achieving strong scores on the Academic IELTS exam.
  • Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) - you'll need a Bachelors degree or a postgraduate teaching qualification, like a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), along with some teaching experience.
  • Registration and accreditation - you must be registered with the relevant state or territory teaching authority.

If you're an international teacher, you can get your existing qualifications assessed against Australian standards by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Teacher salaries in Australia are highly competitive. As a graduate teacher, you can expect to start with an annual salary of around AUD $80,000 to AUD $92,000 (£38,800 to £44,600), depending on the state.

The average salary for experienced teachers ranges from AUD $95,000 to AUD $105,000 (£46,075 to £50,925), with some earning over AUD $130,000 (£63,050) a year.

The Australian government and state authorities also offer great incentives to attract teachers to high-demand areas. These include:

Even though Australia is primarily an English-speaking country, there are still opportunities to teach English to international students and expats in public schools or private language academies. For these roles, you'll typically need a degree and a recognised TEFL qualification.

Internships

If you're looking to gain some real-world experience, internships are a great way to get your foot in the door in Australia. Many companies offer structured programmes for students and graduates, and while some are unpaid, lots of great opportunities exist.

You can find internships through a few different avenues:

  • professional bodies - fields like accounting, law, and engineering often have their own professional placement programmes.
  • private providers - there are agencies that specialise in helping you find an internship, though some may charge a fee.
  • university partnerships - many Australian universities have partnerships that connect their students with placements.

Doing an internship or a work placement can help you build your skills and make valuable connections that could lead to a permanent job.

Search for placements and internships at:

Australian visas

If you'd like to work in Australia, you'll need the right visa. The one you need depends on your circumstances and the type of work you plan to do.

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462) are popular choices for young travellers. These visas allow you to travel and work in Australia for up to three years. The age limit is typically 18 to 30, but for some nationalities (like the UK), it extends to 35.

UK citizens can apply for their second and third Working Holiday visas without needing to complete the specified regional work. For other nationalities, this specified work - often referred to as 'farm work' but including a range of jobs - is still required to qualify for a second or third year.

Once you have the visa, you can generally work for up to six months with any one employer.

If you're looking for a longer-term residency, the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) has been replaced by the new Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (subclass 482). This visa allows a skilled worker to be sponsored by an Australian employer to fill a position that can't be filled by a local worker.

The SID visa has three streams:

  • a Specialist Skills Stream for high-earning professionals
  • a Core Skills Stream for a range of occupations on a new list
  • a Labour Agreement Stream for workers who are sponsored by an Australian employer.

The minimum work experience requirement has also been reduced to one year, while the income thresholds for skilled visas have been updated. The Core Skills Income Threshold is now at AUD $76,515 (£37,125).

For more permanent work, you'll generally need to apply for a Skilled Migration visa. This is a points-tested system, and it often requires you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. If you're invited, you can then apply for a visa like:

If you're an international student, the Student visa (subclass 500) allows you to work part time while you're studying. You are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during term time and full time during breaks. Postgraduate research students have no work hour limits.

For up-to-date information on any of these visas, always see the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

Language requirements

When applying for an Australian visa or professional registration, you'll need to demonstrate your English language skills. The Australian Government has updated its requirements, offering you more options for proving your proficiency.

The list of accepted English language tests includes:

Certain visa subclasses having more challenging requirements for the writing and speaking components. For example, the minimum required score for the Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) has been raised. You'll now need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four components.

How to explain your qualifications to employers

Qualifications from your home country might not always be directly equivalent to Australian standards. Here's how you can make sure your skills and education are clearly understood by potential employers.

When you're writing your CV or talking to a recruiter, try these tips to effectively present your background:

  • Use Australian equivalents, for example, if you have a 'Bachelor of Arts with Honours' from the UK, you can explain that it's generally considered equivalent to an Australian 'Bachelors Degree with Honours.'
  • Highlight transferable skills, not just the name of the degree. Did you manage projects, lead a team, or work with specific software? These are the skills employers are looking for.
  • Show relevant experience and use your work experience to prove your qualifications. Show how you've applied your education in real-world professional settings.

To ensure your qualifications are officially recognised, you may need to get them assessed. This is particularly important for professions that require specific licensing or registration.

  • The Department of Education provide services for assessing overseas qualifications.
  • Professional bodies, such as teaching, law, or engineering, have their own professional bodies that assess foreign qualifications.
  • ENIC-NARIC will provide a Statement of Comparability from your home country's centre if you have qualifications from Europe. While this doesn't guarantee recognition in Australia, it provides a valuable reference point for employers and professional bodies.

Be aware that getting a formal assessment can take time, but it's often a crucial step to ensuring you can practice your profession in Australia.

What it's like to work in Australia

Australia is known for its fantastic work/life balance and workplace culture that's generally informal, friendly, and collaborative.

A standard full-time work week is typically 38 hours, usually from Monday to Friday. As a full-time employee, you're entitled to a minimum of four weeks of paid annual leave, in addition to public holidays.

The work environment is often egalitarian, meaning it's common to call managers by their first name and to have a more relaxed atmosphere than in other countries. The 'Right to Disconnect' law also allows you to ignore work-related communication outside of your normal hours without fear of negative consequences.

Australia also has one of the highest minimum wages in the world at AUD $24.95 (£12.11) per hour, which ensures a competitive standard of pay.

In Australia, you'll get a mix of national and state-based public holidays. National holidays include:

  • New Year's Day
  • Australia Day
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Anzac Day
  • Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day.

Each state and territory also has its own public holidays, such as Labour Day, which can vary depending on where you're located.

As a non-resident for tax purposes, you'll have a different tax rate than an Australian resident - non-residents are taxed at 30 cents for every dollar you earn up to AUD $135,000 (£65,475).

It's always a good idea to check the official resources from the Australian Taxation Office and the Fair Work Ombudsman for the most up-to-date information on tax and working conditions.

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