Revealed: the two safest jobs in Australia

Everyone from pilots to port workers have been stood down.  Only two industries remain largely intact during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a latest report on employment.

Australians employed in finance, insurance and utilities including electricity, gas, water and waste services held on to their jobs with higher payrolls than before the virus says a report by the Indeed Hiring Lab.

The utilities industry performed strongly, showing that employment in essential services offers a high degree of job security during the crisis.

There is also greater employment in finance and insurance than there was pre-crisis.

“Employment fell everywhere else,” the report said. “Between 14 March and 11 July, payrolls plunged 18 per cent in accommodation and food services and 16 per cent in arts and recreation. Jobs in these industries traditionally hold up well during employment downturns.

“Other normally resilient industries such as education and healthcare, have done better. The factors that drive employment in these areas such as public spending and demographic trends, have remained in place despite widespread lockdowns.

“However, education has experienced considerable uncertainty, particularly around school openings, that is unlike a normal employment downturn,” the report said.

Jobs in the construction industry held up well early in the crisis as it was largely untouched by restrictions in economic activity. But employment in construction declined as the crisis deepened in June and July.

The COVID-19 crisis on jobs was unprecedented in size and swiftness.

“In just two months, April and May, Australian employment fell 872,000 or 6.7 per cent. By comparison, in Australia’s recession of the early 1990s, employment fell 3.6 per cent over 31months.

“This time, many jobs have been sacrificed via lockdowns on economic activity and social distancing, in stark contrast to other employment downturns Australia has experienced,” says the report.

“The COVID-19 impact on jobs could very well be different from previous employment downturns. Occupations in areas such as hospitality, entertainment and sport – normally solid performers in a tough economy – have been devastated amid shuttered restaurants, theatres and sporting venues,” the report said.

Changes in government policy and the introduction and removal of stimulus or support measures will play a big role in job creation during and after the pandemic.