By Aniela R
•
August 3, 2026
New data reveals how Australians move between jobs and what it means for employers and job seekers Australia's workforce is more dynamic than many people realise. New research from Jobs and Skills Australia highlights how workers move between occupations and industries throughout their careers, providing valuable insights for employers, recruiters and professionals planning their next career move. According to JSA's newly released Occupation Mobility Interactive Tool, career pathways are often far more interconnected than traditional job titles suggest. Careers are no longer linear One of the key findings from the report is that occupations tend to form clusters, with workers moving between roles that share similar skills and experience requirements. Rather than following a single, predictable career path, many Australians build careers through a series of lateral moves, stepping stones and transferable skill opportunities. For example, Australia's most common occupation, Sales Assistant (General), acts as a significant gateway role. Workers frequently transition into related customer service positions, while others leverage their experience to move into higher-skilled roles such as retail management, administration and clerical positions. The research identifies eight broad occupational mobility clusters across the labour market, including: Social, Education and Service Health Science and Research Engineering and ICT Other specialised occupational groups These clusters demonstrate that many careers are connected through transferable skills, creating opportunities for workers to pivot into new occupations without starting from scratch. Careers are like LEGO creations. Even when you dismantle one model, the individual blocks remain valuable and can be reassembled into something entirely new. Transferable skills are the pieces that make career pivots possible.
