LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2022: The 15 Australian roles that are growing in demand

The 2022 LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise list reveals the 15 fastest-growing job titles over the past five years and the trends defining the future world of work.

From digitisation to hybrid offices, the world of work is changing at a rapid pace — accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the necessary innovation in its wake. Industries have been upended, while at the same time, many workers have left their jobs in search of something new. These shifts have ignited what we’ve deemed the #GreatReshuffle, leaving professionals wondering where the workplace is headed and what role they want to play in it.

Our 2022 LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise list uncovers the 15 fastest-growing job titles over the past five years. No matter what stage of your career you’re in, this list provides insight into where the workforce is heading and where long-term opportunity lies — whether you’re looking to make a career pivot, get back into the workforce or invest in skills that will prepare you for the future.

To put together this year’s rankings, we looked at LinkedIn data to calculate the job titles experiencing the highest growth rates from January 2017 through July 2021. To be ranked, jobs needed to see consistent growth across our membership base, as well as have grown to a meaningful size by 2021. (You can learn more about our methodology at the bottom of this article.)

This list is meant to be a resource for you. Under each job title, you’ll find insights around salary, median years of experience prior to landing the role, education levels and much more. If working remotely is non-negotiable for you, you’ll also find what remote job availability looks like in each role. And if you’re looking to jump into a new field, take a look at the necessary skills and top job transitions to discover how you can pivot your own experience. Plus, you can check out the current open jobs for the role or dig into courses to gain the skills you need. 

Most importantly, this list is a glimpse of what’s on the horizon: uncovering where the future of work is going and where long-term opportunities await.

Check out this year’s 15 growing job titles in Australia — and join the conversation using #JobsontheRise.

What they do: This senior role is responsible for setting and delivering an HR strategy as well as leading and supporting the company’s team of HR managers. | Most common skills: Culture Change, HR Strategy, Employee Engagement | Most common industries: Financial Services, Information Technology & Services, Hospital & Health Care | Salary range: Not sufficient data | Current gender distribution: 79.64% female; 20.36% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 100% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 15.8 | Top roles transitioned from: Head of Human Resources, Human Resources Director, Human Resources Manager | Remote job availability: 2.4%

See open jobs | Learn how to develop your HR management and leadership skills

What they do: Machine Learning Engineers develop and implement self-running artificial intelligence algorithms and systems for products and applications. | Most common skills: Machine Learning, Deep Learning, TensorFlow | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Computer Software, Retail | Salary range: $50,000-$229,000 | Current gender distribution: 19.25% female; 80.75% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 50% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 4.5 | Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Engineer | Remote job availability: 17.6%

See open jobs | Learn more about becoming a Machine Learning Specialist

What they do: Site Reliability Engineers create and implement automated software tools to maximise a system's reliability and efficiency, working closely with software development and IT operations. | Most common skills: Site Reliability Engineering, Amazon Web Services, Kubernetes | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Computer Software, Internet | Salary range: $85,000-$176,000 | Current gender distribution: 11.88% female; 88.12% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 84.20% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 8.8 | Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, DevOps Consultant, System Engineer | Remote job availability: 30.8%

See open jobs | Learn the DevOps Foundations

What they do: Increasingly employed by energy firms focused on renewable sources, Power System Engineers design systems to provide power for residential and commercial use. | Most common skills: PSS/E, Power Systems, PSCAD | Most common industries: Civil Engineering, Oil & Energy, Utilities | Salary range: $74,900-$150,000 | Current gender distribution: 10.56% female; 89.44% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 72.80% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 7.4 | Top roles transitioned from: Electrical Engineer | Remote job availability: 7.1%

See open jobs

What they do: Data engineers build and maintain data storage systems that are used by data scientists and other stakeholders in the company. | Most common skills: Data Engineering, Apache Spark, Amazon Web Services | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Financial Services, Banking | Salary range: $81,000-$147,000 | Current gender distribution: 23.75% female; 76.25% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 80% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 8.9 | Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Consultant | Remote job availability: 13.4%

See open jobs | Learning Path: Become a Data Engineer

Similar titles include Talent Attraction Specialist and Recruiting Specialist.

What they do: Talent Acquisition Specialists focus on long-term strategy to attract, source, hire and onboard new talent within an organisation. | Most common skills: Recruiting, Talent Management, Interviewing | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Staffing & Recruiting, Financial Services | Salary range: $70,200-$123,000 | Current gender distribution: 71.55% female; 28.45% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 79.3% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 8.3 | Top roles transitioned from: Recruitment Consultant, Recruiter, Talent Acquisition Manager | Remote job availability: 6.2%

See open jobs | Learn about the technology for product managers

What they do: Business Development Representatives are usually early-career salespeople responsible for identifying and reaching out to prospective clients. | Most common skills: Business Development, Salesforce.com, Lead Generation | Most common industries: Computer Software, Information Technology & Services, Internet | Salary range: $50,200-$84,500 | Current gender distribution: 37.51% female; 62.49% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 73.60% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 4.6 | Top roles transitioned from: Salesperson, Business Development Manager, Account Manager | Remote job availability: 12.2%

See open jobs | Learn the foundations of business development

Can also be referred to as UX writer/designer

What they do: Content designers shape the experience of a user of digital products through the use of text, images, video and other content. | Most common skills: Content Design, Content Strategy, User Experience (UX) | Most common industries: Government Administration, Computer Software, Telecommunications | Salary range: Data not available | Current gender distribution: 66.67% female; 33.33% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 78.6% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 9.1 | Top roles transitioned from: Graphic Designer, Content Coordinator, Corporate Communications Officer | Remote job availability: 5.4%

See open jobs

What they do: Cyber Security Specialists are IT professionals who protect a firm’s data and intellectual property from online scams, hacking and ransomware attacks. | Most common skills: Cybersecurity, Information Security, Network Security | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Computer & Network Security, Financial Services | Salary range: Data not available | Current gender distribution: 19.92% female; 80.08% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 80.7% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 10.1 | Top roles transitioned from: Cyber Security Analyst, Security Guard, Information Security Specialist | Remote job availability: 3.1%

See open jobs | Learn how to become an IT Security Specialist

What they do: Client Partners are the conduit between a company and its strategic and financial partnerships and are entrusted with building and maintaining relationships. | Most common skills: Account Management, Strategy, Stakeholder Management | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Marketing & Advertising, Staffing & Recruiting | Salary range: Data not available | Current gender distribution: 43.31% female; 56.69% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 68.9% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 11.2 | Top roles transitioned from: Director of Account Management, Account Executive, Director of Business Development | Remote job availability: 6.4%

See open jobs 

What they do: Back End Developers build and code the server-side technology that powers front-end web and mobile applications. | Most common skills: Amazon Web Services, Node.js, Git | Most common industries: Computer Software, Information Technology & Services, Internet | Salary range: Data not available | Current gender distribution: 20.70% female; 79.30% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 91% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 5.1 | Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Full Stack Engineer, Web Developer | Remote job availability: 14.2%

See open jobs | Learn how to become a back-end web developer

Similar titles include Administration Support Officer

What they do: Operations Support Officers provide administrative support to a variety of teams to ensure the business runs smoothly and efficiently. | Most common skills: Office Administration, Time Management, Data Entry | Most common industries: Government Administration, Non-profit Organisation Management, Sports | Salary range: $49,700-$84,800 | Current gender distribution: 61.21% female; 38.79% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 57.1% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 6 | Top roles transitioned from: Administrative Officer, Customer Service Representative, Soldier | Remote job availability: 2%

See open jobs 

What they do: A Workforce Specialist develops strategies for a company’s hiring practices, management of ongoing staffing needs and onboarding. | Most common skills: Workforce Planning, Stakeholder Management, Change Management | Most common industries: Hospital & Health Care, Government Administration, Management Consulting | Salary range: Data not available | Current gender distribution: 63.50% female; 36.50% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 73.40% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 9.3 | Top roles transitioned from: Human Resources Counselor, Human Resources Business Partner | Remote job availability: 1.3%

See open jobs | Learn more about developing future workforces 

What they do: A tech-based role, the Head of Engineering oversees a team of engineers designing and developing a company’s suite of digital products. | Most common skills: Amazon Web Services, Cloud Computing, Software Development | Most common industries: Information Technology & Services, Computer Software, Financial Services | Salary range: $137,000-$236,000 | Current gender distribution: 7.56% female; 92.44% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 61.1% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 13.3 | Top roles transitioned from: Software Engineer, Engineering Manager, Chief Technology Officer | Remote job availability: 22.9%

See open jobs

What they do: User Experience Researchers analyse user motivations, preferences and behaviours to help inform business strategy and product development. | Most common skills: Usability Testing, User Experience (UX), User Experience Design | Most common industries: Retail, Administration, Non-profit Organisation Management | Salary range: $56,800-$161,000 | Current gender distribution: 67.52% female; 32.48% male | Education (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees): 85% | Median years of experience (prior to this role): 6.6 | Top roles transitioned from: User Experience Designer, Research Director, Design Strategist | Remote job availability: 10.9%

See open jobs |  Learn how to advance your skills as a user experience researcher

You can also check out the Jobs on the Rise in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK, US, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Pan-Europe.

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List Methodology

LinkedIn Economic Graph researchers examined millions of jobs started by LinkedIn members from January 1, 2017 to July 31, 2021 to calculate a growth rate for each job title. To be ranked, a job title needed to see consistent growth across our membership base, as well as have grown to a meaningful size by 2021. Identical job titles across different seniority levels were grouped and ranked together. Internships, volunteer positions, interim roles and student roles were excluded, and jobs where hiring was dominated by a small handful of companies in each country were also excluded. 

Job Insights

Additional data points for each of the job titles are based on LinkedIn profiles of members holding the title and/or open jobs for that title in the country.

Remote job postings are based on jobs posted from October 2020 to October 2021 flagged as ‘remote’ by the poster or containing similar keywords. Salary data is calculated using the median yearly salary in the local currency of the country from all past anonymous LinkedIn member submissions and third-party sources. Skills data was derived from the top skills most unique to each title among members who have ever held that title on LinkedIn. Years of experience was calculated using the median years of work experience held prior to starting in the featured title for members hired within the methodology time frame. Education distribution results were derived by analysing the highest degree attained by members with the featured title, then calculating the number of members with each degree as a share of total degree holders for each title. Top industries are based on the industry of the companies that hired the highest number of members for each job from January 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021. Gender breakdown was calculated by measuring the number of members by identified gender currently in each job (provided there was meaningful gender data) as a percentage of the total members with known gender per job. Most common transitions were identified by the share of transitions from another occupation into the featured job. 

Internships, volunteer positions, interim roles and student roles were excluded, and identical job titles across seniority levels were grouped together.

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Reported by: Cathy Anderson