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Finding a job

Finding a Job

Find a job in Australia

Find your dream job in Australia: we tell you where to look, who is hiring, how to get assistance, and what the visa and language requirements are.

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Updated 16-3-2026

Australia has a strong job market which has attracted many young professionals in particular in recent years. However, the market is tightly controlled, with a points-based visa system regulating the influx of skilled foreign workers.

Here’s what you should know about finding a job in Australia, with information sections on:

Table of contents

Use Wise to cut currency conversion costs when transferring money

If you’re an expat who’s relocated to start a new job in Australia, you can use Wise if you need to manage your money across borders. The Wise multicurrency account allows you to hold, convert, and spend money in multiple currencies, and you can make international transfers at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees. This means you’ll enjoy more of your new salary.

The job market in Australia

Australia currently has a relatively strong job market. Unemployment is low – at 4.1% overall and 9.6% for youth unemployment – but the number of job vacancies are above average. This is good news for expats interested in moving to Australia for work purposes as there are plenty of opportunities, especially in major cities.

What jobs are in demand in Australia?

Australia’s main industries include (2025):

  • Healthcare and social assistance (16.2% of the workforce)
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services (9.3%)
  • Construction (9.2%)
  • Retail trade (9.1%)
  • Education and training (8.9%)
  • Accommodation and food services (6.7%)
  • Public administration and safety (6.7%)
  • Manufacturing (5.9%)

Skills shortages have been reported in a number of sectors including:

  • Healthcare and social assistance
  • Trades, construction, and technical roles
  • Education and training
  • IT and digital skills
  • Finance and accounting
  • Engineering

The biggest Australian companies include:

  • Woolworths
  • Wesfarmers
  • Coles Group
  • Ramsay Healthcare
  • Australia Post
  • Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
  • ANZ

In addition to these, multinational companies with a strong presence in Australia include:

  • IKEA
  • Costco
  • Shell
  • Microsoft
  • Google
  • HSBC
  • Allianz

The public sector is a big employer in Australia, with nearly 2.6 million jobs in total (around 17.5% of all jobs). This includes jobs within federal departments, state and territory governments, and local municipal governments.

You can visit the Jobs and Skills Australia website for further information on current shortages and industry/occupation profiles.

Job vacancies for foreigners in Australia

Australia has a high proportion of international workers, with around 26.3% of the workforce foreign-born (2020). The country has been identified as one of the most attractive for young professionals, and there are a number of work and business visas available to attract global talent. A 2023 report found that 86% of companies were looking to hire overseas skilled talent to fill shortages.

The federal government runs the Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) program for highly-skilled migrants to fill specialist shortages. Additionally, some states and territories run incentive schemes to attract skilled foreign workers, for example the Skilled Migration Job Connect scheme in Western Australia.

The biggest employment sectors for international workers in Australia include:

  • Healthcare and social assistance
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services
  • Construction
  • Hospitality
  • Manufacturing and logistics

There are also certain fields that value foreign workers for their skills and attributes, for example tourism, education, agriculture, and call center industries.

Although there are many good opportunities for skilled expats in Australia, average earnings for migrants tend to be lower. Government statistics have shown that the median annual personal income of migrants is 13.5% lower than that of the population as a whole. Furthermore, while Australia has strong labor protections, foreigners on temporary work visas are more likely to be on fixed-term or casual contracts that have fewer benefits than permanent contracts.

How to find jobs in Australia

Expatica jobs in Australia

You can look for suitable openings on the Expatica job board.

Public job sites

Workforce Australia is the government’s employment support service. You can search for current positions on the job page.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) also has a Jobs Hub where you can explore industries with entry-level positions and find employers in your chosen industry.

You can also check APS Jobs for public sector opportunities.

Job websites in Australia

There are many general job websites where you can browse current jobs and upload your CV, including the following:

Additionally, there are several specialist sites focusing on specific industries, professions, or job types:

Recruitment agencies

There are a number of recruitment agencies in Australia. Some are general while others may specialize in certain industries or sectors. The benefit of using an agency is that they will provide more help in finding suitable work, whereas with job sites you usually have to search yourself.

Popular agencies in Australia include:

You can search for Australian recruitment agencies on SEEK.

Embassies and foreign organizations

Check out opportunities at the embassies and consulates in Australia. Most will expect a high standard of both spoken and written English.

Most embassies and consulates are in Canberra, although some are in other cities such as Melbourne and Sydney.

Newspapers

You can keep an eye on job sections in Australian newspapers. The Australian has a good careers section, while the Australian Financial Review is good for high-level financial roles. It’s also worth checking local and regional papers for area-specific jobs.

Make the first move: speculative applications

It’s always worth reaching out to individual companies to see if they have any openings. You can check company websites for vacancies or find a relevant contact that deals with recruitment. Bear in mind that if you’re applying from outside Australia and need a visa, you’ll need to meet the requirements of the points-based system or acquire a nomination from a prospective employer.

Self-employment and freelancing in Australia

Another option is to set out on your own and either work as a freelancer or start up your own business in Australia. You can do this as long as you have the right to work in the country, otherwise you’ll need to apply for a business or investor visa.

You can check for the latest opportunities and initiatives on the government’s business website.

Traineeships, internships, and volunteering in Australia

Internships and volunteering can be great ways of building experience and developing your career. While volunteering is unpaid, interns and trainees in Australia are entitled to minimum pay rates (below the national minimum wage).

You can search for internships and placements on:

For volunteering opportunities suitable for internationals, check:

Assistance looking for employment in Australia

There are various resources to help migrants who are looking for work in Australia. These include:

How do you apply for a job in Australia?

The job application process in Australia is similar to that in many countries. Once you’ve found a position you want to apply for, you typically need to send a resume (CV) and cover letter. Australian resumes are usually 2–4 pages detailing education, work experience, skills, and notable achievements. Cover letters should focus on the required specifications for the role.

If successful, you’ll usually be invited to an interview (in-person or video) typically lasting 30–60 minutes. There may also be a short phone interview beforehand (10–20 minutes). As part of the interview, you may have to undertake a skills test (e.g., writing or technical test).

Employers in Australia usually ask for at least two referees (usually former employers). You can add these at the end of your resume if you have them ready.

If you land the job, you’ll usually receive a formal job offer letter by email or post.

See resume.io for more information on developing your resume.

What are the requirements to find work in Australia?

1. Do you need an Australian work visa?

If you’re not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you’ll usually need a work visa. Australia has annual caps on the number of visas issued and a points-based system to control entry. Most workers need to meet certain requirements around skills and qualifications.

Current Australian work visas include:

  • Skilled Independent visas for workers with needed skills
  • Employer Nomination Scheme visas for workers nominated by individual employers
  • National Innovation visa for people with a recognized record of achievement

If you’re a skilled worker interested in getting employment in Australia, you can express interest through the SkillSelect program.

2. What are the language requirements to work in Australia?

Most jobs in Australia require applicants to speak a reasonable standard of English. If you apply for a work visa, you will usually need to prove your level of English ability (e.g., IELTS qualification).

If you are already in Australia, you may be eligible for free language training if you need to improve your English.

You can search for English language courses in Australia through resources such as:

3. Can you transfer your qualifications to work in Australia?

If you have overseas qualifications, you may need to have them assessed to work at an equivalent level in Australia. For skilled migration visas, applicants must obtain a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their occupation. In regulated professions such as healthcare, teaching, or trades, additional registration or licensing may be required.

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) outlines the levels of recognised Australian qualifications. Some states and territories operate Overseas Qualifications Units, which can provide general assessments comparing overseas qualifications to Australian standards.

4. Will you need a tax and social security number?

You will need a tax file number (TFN) to work in Australia. This links to your income tax payments. Although it’s legally possible to work in Australia without a TFN, this means you may be taxed at the highest marginal rate and pay more tax than you should.

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Financial support while looking for a job in Australia

Australia has an unemployment benefit called the Jobseeker Payment. However, you need to be a resident to qualify for this. New arrivals face a wait of up to four years before they can apply.

If you don’t qualify for the Jobseeker Payment, you may be eligible for the Special Benefit. This is available for people who experience financial hardship and don’t qualify for other forms of support. To claim, you will need to be a citizen, permanent resident, or hold a qualifying temporary visa.

Managing your money while job hunting

If you’ve recently arrived in Australia and are looking for a job, you may need to transfer savings from your home country to support yourself until you gain employment or can access unemployment benefits.

Moving money across currencies can be costly. Banks and many money transfer services charge high fees and exchange rates. However, services such as Wise provide low-cost solutions for sending money to Australia while you carry out your job search. The Wise multi-currency account allows you to hold and manage funds in up to 40 currencies. Money transfers into Australia use the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees, meaning that you won’t pay excessive hidden rates on the transaction.

Open a Wise account

Starting your job in Australia: important questions

What type of job contracts are there in Australia?

In Australia, the main types of contracts are permanent, fixed-term, and casual. Fixed-term contracts should be for a maximum of two years. Contracts should guarantee certain rights such as the national minimum wage and maximum work hours. Casual contracts usually don’t include benefits such as sick pay, holiday pay, or parental leave.

What additional benefits do employees get in Australia?

Employees on permanent and fixed-term contracts usually get paid annual leave, paid sick leave, and parental leave pay. Employers should also make Superannuation contributions (retirement savings) for employees. Workers can also access public healthcare through compulsory Medicare Levy payments (usually 2% of salary).

How can you best manage your Australian salary across borders?

Foreign workers often need to manage salaries across borders, for example sending money home to family or paying into overseas accounts. This can involve excessive currency conversion fees. Using a Wise multi-currency account allows you to receive, hold, and convert funds in multiple currencies. You can also save money on international transfers, which are made using the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden conversion fees.

Go to Wise

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Author

Adam Nowek

About the author

Originally from Vancouver, Adam has lived in Belgium and Hong Kong and is currently residing in the Netherlands.

His interests range a wide spectrum of topics, from digital nomads and modern conflict to sports and local craft beer.