KPMG Australia analysis has revealed that care economy jobs in childcare and early learning are among the fastest growing occupations from 2014 to 2024.
It said childcare and early learning has experienced large increases as more women participate in the workforce requiring these services.
According to KPMG, early childhood and childcare has risen from 168,500 workers in 2014, to 257,000 in 2024, representing a 52.5 per cent growth rate.
The number of school teachers has also grown, from 311,400 in 2014 to 384,800 in 2024, representing a 23.6 per cent growth rate.
Tech and IT professionals, marketers, HR professionals, chefs and cooks and truck and delivery drivers round out the list of the top 10 growing jobs as the gig economy and the prioritisation of wellbeing and health significantly alter Australia’s occupational structure.
“The surge in care economy occupations reflects a jobs market responding to Australia’s changing demographics,” said KPMG Urban Economist, Mr Terry Rawnsley.
“As the older Baby Boomers enter their late 70’s and early 80’s the need to rapidly expand aged care and related health services grows stronger. Meanwhile, increased participation of women in the workforce has meant the demand for childcare has similarly increased over the last decade.
“We are already seeing governments invest heavily in the aged care, disability support, and childcare sectors to meet future expected demand.”
KPMG Australia said digitisation of the economy has also seen major declines in the take-up of occupations such as executive assistants and travel agents. A decline in the number farmers is reflecting a shift away from smaller, family-run farms to larger farming operations. Meanwhile, print manufacturing workers and telco repair and installation workers complete the list of fastest shrinking jobs between 2014 and 2024.
KPMG economists calculated estimates for the size of each occupation in 2024 by combining tax returns data from the Australian Tax Office, employment data from the Census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Surveys and Jobs & Skills Australia NERO data sets.
The latest data comes as the Victorian State Government announces it is set to open 14 new Early Learning centres in 2026.
Minister for Children Ms Lizzie Blandthorn visited the future site of Early Learning Victoria Noble Park to mark the start of construction – and announce that builders have been appointed for all 14 new centres.
The centres, known by interim names, are:
- Early Learning Victoria Clunes
- Early Learning Victoria Frankston
- Early Learning Victoria Hallam
- Early Learning Victoria Mickleham South
- Early Learning Victoria Noble Park
- Early Learning Victoria Numurkah
- Early Learning Victoria Portland South
- Early Learning Victoria Shepparton
- Early Learning Victoria Kings Park
- Early Learning Victoria Teesdale
- Early Learning Victoria Toolern Waters
- Early Learning Victoria Wedderburn
- Early Learning Victoria Werribee
- Early Learning Victoria Wollert
Ms Blandthorn said these centres will charge fees below local market rates, making childcare more affordable for families – on top of savings from the state government’s Free Kinder program, which is saving families up to $2,600 a year for three and four-year-old kinder.
Each centre will be located on or near a local school, easing the double drop-off and making the transition from kinder to school simpler for children and families.
With these additions, a total of 18 government-owned and operated Early Learning Victoria centres will be open by 2026 – providing more than 1,800 licensed places for children across the state.
