Are you considering a career change this year? Whether it is due to general redundancy, wanting to upskill yourself, looking for a pay rise, or simply feeling burnt out in your current role (we’ve all been there), make sure you assess your options before making a move.
The great news is, we’ve done the research for you. In this article, you will discover:
- Top growth industries for 2026
- In-demand job roles
- Qualifications to get you there
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, total employment in Australia is projected to grow by 961,000 (6.5%) over the next 5 years. Looking further out, employment is projected to grow by close to 2 million people (13.3%) over the next decade, reaching 16.6 million employed by May 2035. While this growth rate is in line with the projected growth of the population, it is worth getting ahead of the curve if you are considering a career change.
Your experience may already line up with some of Australia’s fastest-growing industries. With employers increasingly focused on skills over job titles, RPL qualifications can help you transition faster.
Here is a quick look at the top growth industries for 2026
Five sectors where Churchill graduates are moving, the roles hiring into them, and the qualifications that get you in the door:
| Industry | In demand roles | Qualification to get you there |
| Leadership and Management | Team Leader, Operations Manager, Project Manager, Digital Marketing Leader | Diploma of Leadership and Management |
| Business Management | Business Administrator, Office Manager, Analyst, Project Coordinator | Diploma of Business |
| Work Health and Safety | WHS Advisor, HSE Manager, Risk and Compliance Officer, Safety Coordinator | Diploma of Work Health and Safety |
| Security and Risk | Security Risk Adviser, Protective Security Officer, Investigator, Resilience Manager | Diploma of Security Risk Management |
| Government and Public Sector | Policy Officer, Program Coordinator, Compliance Officer, Government Investigator | Diploma of Government |
Roles in Leadership and Management
Let’s Get Digital
With a big move towards AI, industries need managers who can lead change and build high-performing teams. AI literacy is becoming a core competency across industries. High-demand roles in 2026 include:
- Team Leader / Supervisor
- Operations Manager
- Project Manager
- Digital Marketing Leader
- Media and Advertising roles
The demand is not anecdotal. On Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation projections, the three occupations projected to grow fastest over the decade are all management roles: Health and Welfare Services Managers (27.1%), ICT Managers (25.5%), and Research and Development Managers (22.8%).
Qualifications to get you there: leadership and management
- BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management
- BSB60420 Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management
- BSB80320 Graduate Diploma of Strategic Leadership
Roles in Business Management
Small Businesses Matter
Australian SMEs and startups are experiencing a period of growth, marked by an increase in the number of businesses and positive revenue forecasts, especially in sectors like manufacturing and financial services (Sharecafe). High-growth roles include:
- Business Administrator
- Office Manager
- Analyst
- Project Coordinator
This is where the bulk of the growth sits. Jobs and Skills Australia projects that services industries will account for 84% of all employment growth over the next five years, which is exactly the territory a business qualification covers.
Qualifications to get you there: business
- BSB50120 Diploma of Business
- BSB50120 Diploma of Business (Operations)
- BSB60120 Advanced Diploma of Business
Roles in Work Health and Safety
Safety Culture Takes Centre Stage
With rising compliance standards, organisations require WHS leaders who can manage risks, support mental health programs, and maintain safe hybrid workplaces.
Australia’s WHS job market has rebounded strongly, with recruitment-market data putting opportunities up 22.3% in the 12 months to August 2025. This ends the declining trend seen in 2023, and reflects employers’ changing view that workplace health, safety and environment is no longer seen as a short-term reflex, but an entrenched and fundamental function.
High-demand WHS roles:
- WHS Advisor
- HSE Manager
- Risk and Compliance Officer
- Safety Coordinator
If you already own WHS in your workplace, our guide to the Diploma of WHS Fast Track covers how quickly that experience can become a qualification.
Qualifications to get you there: work health and safety
- BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety
- BSB60619 Advanced Diploma of Work Health and Safety
- BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management
Roles in Security and Risk
Risk Is Now a Board-Level Conversation
Security and risk has moved from the guard house to the executive floor. Organisations are being asked to evidence how they assess threat, protect people and assets, and keep operating when something goes wrong, and they need people who can do that work rather than simply describe it. If you have come from policing, Defence, corrections, or emergency services, this is often the shortest bridge into the civilian workforce, because security risk management is largely what you were already doing.
In demand roles:
- Security Risk Adviser
- Protective Security Officer
- Risk and Resilience Manager
- Investigator
Qualifications to get you there: security and risk
Roles in Government and the Public Sector
Experience Counts, Titles Do Not
Public administration keeps hiring, and it is one of the few sectors where a formal qualification is often the gate you have to pass to be considered, even when you have done the work for years. That makes it fertile ground for public sector RPL: the experience is already there, and the qualification simply makes it legible to a selection panel.
In-demand roles:
- Policy Officer
- Program Coordinator
- Compliance Officer
- Government Investigator
Qualifications to get you there: government
Why a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Appraisal Matters in 2026
An RPL appraisal helps you:
- Identify which nationally recognised qualifications your experience already matches (no study required)!
- Strengthen your eligibility for leadership, WHS, or business roles
- Unlock opportunities in growth industries
- Stand out in a skills-focused hiring market
- Turn real-world experience into career advancement
Move into a growing industry with Churchill behind you
Growth on a projection sheet only matters if it turns into a job you can actually get. The qualification is the part of that you can control, and most people are closer to holding one than they expect.
Churchill’s assessors work with people changing industries every day. They will tell you plainly which of these sectors your experience already reaches, and which one is worth aiming at next.