HSE Job Market Report - February 2022

Workplace Health, Safety and Environment jobs are surging across Australia and look to remain strong for much of 2022.

We are seeing significant demand from employers across most industries and job categories. A scarcity of job-seekers is creating a shortfall of applicants for roles.

To learn about the latest growth-areas download the resources below or keep reading for more information.

Download the HSE Job Opportunities Index Report

The Australian job market is currently surging. Demand is strong, while significant talent shortages continue across most industries and job categories. 

Job ads on SEEK set a record high in January 2022, up almost 40% year-on-year (and 36.6% compared to the same period 2-years ago). Opportunities abound, but applicants are low. SEEK reported a significant drop in job ad response rates which are down a whopping 50% compared to 2019. 

Whilst borders are reopening, overseas visa applications are taking 3 times longer than prior to the pandemic. Relief is still some way off for sectors such as technology, healthcare and consulting/professional services. 

Employers across the board are seeking people with professional expertise who can balance technical and commercial/relational capabilities. 

The ongoing pressures of the pandemic have further exacerbated the demand for Workplace Health, Safety and Environment professionals. HSE employment opportunities have increased as organisations put forward a people-first approach in place, whilst also dealing with shifting environmental factors such as changing legislation. 

Workplace Health, Safety and Environment is expected to remain busy through the whole of 2022.

The national Health, Safety and Environment Job Opportunities Index hit an all-time high of 160.85 in November 2021. This was in concert with a booming employment market. Economic confidence drove demand across all occupations, not just HSE. The ABS Labour Force data reported the addition of 366,000 jobs in November, a record monthly rise.

A more subdued market over the Dec-Jan period can be attributed to the usual holiday season slow-down, as well as the uncertainty created by Omicron. Record levels of absenteeism disrupted normal return-to-work rhythms. Employers began 2022 in ‘firefighting mode’ and paused non-urgent talent acquisition. 

Over the past 12-months we have seen some erratic highs and sizable drops in the National HSE Job Index. Looking ahead, HSE job opportunities are likely to pick up as the impacts of the pandemic stabilise. We expect a rise in both contract as well as permanent appointments. 

Given current talent shortages, employers will need to bolster capability through whatever means possible. In certain segments, hiring managers are needing to compromise either on remuneration or on expected capabilities in order to fill vacancies. An anticipated “sellers’ market” will favour job seekers through 2022. 

Speed to market is a key challenge for employers at the moment. Delays in engaging with talent or slow hiring processes can result in talent being snapped up elsewhere.

New South Wales was typical of the national job market through much of 2021. Demand fluctuated but ended-up 10.3% higher year-on-year. Demand for HSE professionals in NSW was affected somewhat by seasonal issues but was mainly governed by the effects of second-wave lockdowns and associated pandemic impacts. 

Likewise, Victoria started the year strongly. Peaks and troughs throughout the year reflected the various impacts of lockdowns and subsequent bounce backs. 

Whilst Queensland has some key and materially large sectors such as Mining, it’s also the only state that has a lower Job Index than its pre pandemic level (by just 1.2%). Interstate and international border closures have hurt key sectors in Queensland, most notably Hospitality and Tourism. Hopefully 2022 will provide some much-needed relief in these industries. 

Current conditions can be best described as “buyers’ market” for jobseekers. Candidates hold the negotiating power, particularly at the HSE Advisor level which make up almost two-thirds of all advertised job opportunities. 

As demand for HSE people outstrips supply,we have noticed salaries start to increase, often beyond organisation budgets. 

Hybrid ways of working and career-development opportunities are important drivers for those seeking work. If these needs are met it becomes a decision based on salary. Bidding wars can occur when HSE professionals are interviewing with multiple organisations at the same time. 

Whilst still a small percentage of the HSE sector, Wellbeing and ESG roles continue to grow in demand. Businesses are looking to bring in Centers of Excellence (CoE) in both areas to drive a more informed, evidence and risk-based approach. We expect to see job opportunities in these areas continue to grow over the next period.