The Jobs and Skills Report 2024 released by the Australian Government revealed that managers are among the major occupation groups in persistent shortage. This indicates the need for professionals to develop the necessary skills to fill in leadership roles in response to this demand.
Studying an MBA can aid your journey to become a leader in this changing workplace and give you skills that will be favoured now and in the future of work.
The Australian skills shortage
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, shortages occur when employers struggle or aren’t able to fill vacancies for a particular occupation or face significant challenges in meeting specialised skill demands within that role at current levels of compensation, employment conditions and in reasonably accessible locations.
The Jobs and Skills report outlined reasons why shortages happen, which include:
- technological developments
- an ageing population
- constraints in the availability of qualified and experienced workers
- working conditions and pay
Businesses also recognise the ongoing issue of skills shortage in Australia. A 2025 report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) disclosed that 65 per cent of Australian employers find skill gaps to be a key business challenge from 2025 to 2030, slightly exceeding the global average of 63 per cent. This finding falls in line with Indeed’s Skillfully Aligned report in 2024, where 69 per cent of employers in Australia acknowledge an existing skills gap affecting their company and predict that this gap will widen within the next five years.
Leadership roles are in great demand
The government revealed in the 2024 report that 136 occupations were in persistent shortage from 2021 to 2024, including managers.
In December 2024, the Department of Home Affairs released the updated Core Skills Occupation List for its temporary work visa. The list outlines what jobs are in demand in Australia and it aims to bring in skilled migrants who can fill in these roles. Some of the leadership jobs on the list include chief executive or managing director, chief information officer, corporate general manager, finance manager and human resource manager.
At the same time, this great demand provides a positive job outlook for many professionals looking to enter leadership positions.
According to the Jobs and Skills report, manager roles are projected to grow by 151, 500 people or 8.2 per cent by 2029 and by 291,100 people or 15.7 per cent by 2034. This includes roles such as hospitality, retail and service managers, advertising, public relations and sales managers, construction managers and ICT managers.
The need to upskill the workforce
According to WEF’s 2025 report, employees around the world can expect that 39 per cent of their current skill set will change or become outdated over the next five years. With rapid technological advancements and evolving industry trends occurring on a global scale, business professionals are encouraged to upskill themselves to remain competitive and relevant in today’s job market.
Businesses are also taking action to remedy the skills gap in their workforce. WEF revealed that 85 per cent of employers worldwide intend to focus on upskilling their employees. Closer to home, 91 per cent of Australian businesses planned to either maintain or increase their spending on training and development over the next 12 months.
What skills are in demand in Australia?
Upskilling involves learning new skills or improving existing skills to meet the demands of a current or future role. However, what skills should business professionals, especially leaders and aspiring leaders, specifically focus on to get ahead in this competitive landscape?
Indeed’s 2024 report revealed the top five skills needed for success according to employers and employees, which are:
- communication
- teamwork and collaboration
- critical thinking and problem-solving
- adaptability and flexibility
- IT/tech savviness
Interestingly, despite the increasing usage of AI and tech in businesses now, soft skills are prioritised more than technical skills. The survey also revealed that millennials value soft skills more than any other generation. This makes sense as workers in this age group may be considering or entering leadership and management roles, so soft skills are important to help them manage people and projects effectively.
Favouring soft skills is also prevalent among public servants in Australia. According to a 2024 survey that involved more than 1,800 workers in Australia’s public sector, one third of public servants said their department’s most significant skills gaps involve soft skills.
When asked about the most critical skills for their department to develop in the next three to five years, the top answer was change management and leadership. Below are the other important skills in the top five:
- data-driven decision-making and analytics
- innovation and creative problem-solving
- advanced digital and ICT
- project and program management
As businesses recognise the powerful influence of advanced tech such as AI, they also realise the value of uniquely human skills that cannot be automated. Therefore, leaders with these skills would be highly in demand across all industries.
How a postgraduate degree can help you become a better leader
A great way for aspiring leaders to upskill is by pursuing a postgraduate business degree in leadership. The qualification helps you gain knowledge and skills that allow you to lead and manage a business effectively.
It also allows you to develop the soft skills necessary to lead others. The units can assist you in honing a variety of skills such as communication, management, strategic thinking and decision-making. These skills are often transferable, allowing you to advance your career and work in leadership roles across diverse industries.
Studying a postgraduate leadership course can also contribute to your professional development beyond the classroom. You can make connections with your peers, academic staff members and even industry professionals. This allows you to gain industry insights and get guidance from experienced leaders who can help you learn how to become a great leader.
Below are some leadership courses you can explore in Australia.
This qualification can enable admission into select UniSA Business master's degrees.
Build the confidence, adaptability and effective leadership skills needed to build and lead high‑performing teams and drive business success.
Study 100% online and learn the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a successful career as a manager in the volatile business world.
Study online and gain theoretical knowledge and practical experience in organisational coaching and leadership.
Develop advanced skills in contemporary governance and leadership to respond to the global demand for increased accountability, equity, and social and environmental responsibility in business.
Designed for achieving organisational goals and sustainably required to maintain your organisations competitive advantage.
Embark on your leadership journey
If you have career aspirations to become a leader, there’s no better time than now to pursue that goal. As managers are some of the most in-demand professionals in Australia, it presents a great opportunity for you to develop the right skills that can open more doors to leadership roles. You can do this by pursuing a postgraduate course in leadership.
Discover various leadership courses available in Australia.