The demand for knowledge workers is increasing across Australia as employers recruit these highly-skilled professionals to add immediate value and adapt to the rapidly changing and digitising world of work.

Of the new jobs added to the latest Hays Quarterly Report of skills in demand (for October to December 2016), the recruiter says “almost all” require knowledge workers particularly those who are technologically savvy.

“The biggest hiring trend this quarter is the growing number of knowledge-intensive jobs that are now on offer and for which suitably skilled, experienced and educated candidates are in short supply,” says Nick Deligiannis, Managing Director of Hays in Australia & New Zealand.

“These include roles for analysts, architects, teachers, nurses and lawyers, all of which require highly-skilled professionals who perform non-routine jobs. Layer this with the ever-increasing need for technology and digital skills across a broad spectrum of professions and industries, it’s no wonder the talent pool is tight,” Deligiannis added.

Candidates with these skills are known as ‘knowledge workers’ because they require a large amount of knowledge to succeed in the role. They are highly skilled and experienced and use their extensive technical expertise to think of the right solution to the issue at hand.

This is supported by findings from the Hays Global Skills Index, which in Australia found that there is a widening talent mismatch between the skills candidates possess and those employers require. The latest hiring hotspots for knowledge workers include:

• Business Performance Analystswho can develop advanced models are in demand since businesses want to understand where they can create savings and drive efficiencies.
• Systems Accountantsare needed too as businesses implement new systems and look for improvements.
• Highly-skilled Financial Accountantsand qualified Management Accountantswith local experience are in short supply.
• Commercial Analystsare another area of need as companies act to ensure decision makers receive meaningful information and insights into the business.
• Within professional practice, Supervisors and Assistant Managersin business services are needed, with firms viewing quality candidates as potential future partners.
• Interior Designerswith Revit documentation skills and a strong design sensibility are needed.
• So too are Senior Architectswho can assist in running a firm while remaining hands-on when it comes to design.

See: Youth Unemployment Continues to Remain High in Australia

• Investment Strategistsare required. With major international events drastically impacting local markets, investors are increasingly looking to international and emerging markets to hit growth margins and mitigate risk.
• Financial Plannerswith a degree and ADFP, and preferably CFP, are in demand for both Financial Planner roles and remediation projects.
• Mathematics Teachers and Science Teachers, particularly chemistry and physics, are in very short supply. Teachers with experience teaching at the HSC level and with HSC marking experience are also needed.
• Engineers with sound technical knowledge who can consult and manage clients are required.
• Physiotherapists and Psychologistswith the right qualification and experience are in short supply.
• Experienced Personal Care Assistants(PCAs) and Senior Managers are sought by aged care providers, as are business-minded Nurse Managers capable of maximising the Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI) who also have strong people management and leadership skills.
• Experienced Endorsed Enrolled Nursesremain the most sought after candidate in aged care, but there is a shortage of people looking to work in this area.
• Clinical Research Associatesare sought as an increasing number of clinical trials are coming to Australia. Senior Clinical Trial Associatesare needed too. Employers want candidates who are committed to a career in this role in order to provide experience and stability to a fast-paced clinical research environment.
• Across the Eastern seaboard there is demand for Commercial Property, Construction and Planning & Environment Lawyers. The construction boom is driving demand for candidates with top-tier backgrounds for in-house roles in large infrastructure and development companies, while law firms want Property & Construction Law specialists, both front end and backend.
• Corporate and Commercial Lawyers with solid mergers and acquisition backgrounds are also sought.
• Senior Banking, Finance and Restructuring Lawyers who are open to contract roles with leading banks and financial institutions are another area of demand.
• Maintenance and Production Plannersare required. As stock levels and speed to market becomes increasingly competitive, and as manufacturers aim to reduce their raw materials held for cost reasons, these candidates will see demand for their skills remain high.
• ICT Procurement Specialistsare also in high demand, especially those with current technology experience. In addition, within government contractors need GITC experience in order to be considered; within the private sector employers want licensing experience.
• Change Analystsare in short supply too. There has been an increase in the number of these roles driven by a desire to manage costs.
• Data Analystsare also sought. A growing reliance on in-house data analytics has driven growth, especially in the government space.
• CRM and Marketing Automation professionals are also in high demand as customers expect the right message at the right time.

Also read: 1.6 million Australians Regret Inviting their Boss or Colleagues to Be Friends on Social Media