“Best” is relative, the best career for you is the one that fits how you think, work and what actually interests you. But there are careers where Australian school leavers are consistently finding good entry points, strong wages, and real long-term prospects.
Here’s an honest look at what’s working right now.
Trades (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, refrigeration)
If you like working with your hands, being on the move, and solving problems, the trades are one of the strongest pathways available. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and refrigeration mechanics are in shortage across Australia. The apprenticeship model means you earn while you train, qualify in three to four years, and come out with a skill set that can’t be offshored or replaced by software.
Average qualified tradesperson wages in Australia: $35-$70+ per hour. That’s not entry-level money, that’s serious career money.
The barrier to entry is finding an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice. Start researching local businesses in your trade of choice early. Many apprenticeships are filled through direct approaches, not job ads.
Healthcare support (aged care, disability support, healthcare assistant)
Australia’s healthcare support sector is one of the fastest growing in the country. Aged care workers, disability support workers, and personal care assistants are in strong demand, and most roles don’t require prior experience, just the right attitude and a Certificate III (which many employers will fund as part of your employment).
If you’re a people person, patient, and good in emotionally demanding situations, this is worth serious consideration. Pay has also improved significantly in recent years following the Fair Work Commission’s aged care pay equity case.
Business administration and customer service
Entry-level admin, reception, and customer service roles are available across virtually every industry in Australia. They’re a good starting point because they build a broad skill set, communication, organisation, software literacy, professional conduct, that applies to almost any career direction later.
Pay is modest at entry level, but the progression pathways are real. Plenty of people start as a receptionist or admin assistant and move into operations, HR, finance, or management within a few years.
Retail and hospitality
These are the most common entry points for school leavers for a reason, they’re always hiring, they don’t require formal qualifications, and they teach you things that employers across every industry value: how to deal with difficult people, how to work in a team under pressure, how to show up reliably and be accountable.
The pay isn’t high at the start. But the skills are transferable and the references you can build in hospitality or retail will serve you for years.
Construction and project support
Queensland’s Olympic infrastructure build and the national housing shortage mean construction is genuinely booming. Beyond the trades, there are site administration, labouring, project coordination, and estimating roles that don’t require trade qualifications. If construction interests you, getting a White Card (general construction induction) is quick, cheap, and opens up entry-level site access roles immediately.
Technology (IT support, software development, digital marketing)
For school leavers with an interest in tech, there are pathways that don’t require a university degree. IT traineeships, help desk roles, and digital marketing assistant positions are increasingly available. Short courses and bootcamps, many of them online, can build practical skills faster than a traditional degree for certain roles.
The career that’s right for you depends on more than what’s available. It depends on how you think, what motivates you, and what kind of work you’ll actually stick with. RooKi’s career assessment identifies your strengths across aptitude, personality, values and interests, then matches you to career categories that genuinely fit.