Workplace Health & Safety Employment Trends 2022 - 2023

A scarcity of talent and the lasting effects of the pandemic have effected Australia's workplace health and safety employment market in the first half of 2022, but where to next? In this blog we look at Australia's workplace health and safety employment trends for the second half of 2022 and beyond.

Australia's Workplace Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing jobs market reached record high levels in July 2022, with more HSE job opportunities available now than ever before. This is creating excellent opportunities for people who are feeling burnt-out, want to transition into the HSE profession, or are keen to take the next step in their HSE career

There is fierce competition amongst employers to find, attract and retain Workplace Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing people. The Safe Step HSE Job Opportunities Index highlights particularly strong demand for Advisors and Coordinators, but the senior end of the job market is also trending upwards. In recent months the Mining and Construction sectors enjoyed substantial gains in job opportunities, while the Public Sector roles have surged to record-levels.

Strong demand for HSE professionals is likely to continue in the short term. External economic drivers will have an impact on the labour market but such impacts will lag any economic downturn.

Contracting opportunities have been steady over the course of the pandemic, but up until now have been somewhat overshadowed by the sheer strength of the permanent job market. 

In recent months, however, we have seen health and safety contractor roles eclipse permanent growth, rising 20.9% in the 3-months to July 2022. Rising interest rates and international headwinds are likely to continue driving demand for interim support in the second half of the calendar year.

As cost pressure increases, organisations will become slightly more cautious about adding additional permanent headcount. Instead, they will look towards specialist, short term contractors to support resourcing needs. This will balance out the HSE employment market to a more ‘normal’ setting across the course of 2023. 

Eventually health and safety employers are expected to achieve a more balanced approach to outsourcing certain aspects of health and safety and seek specialist support for projects/specific areas of work.

In 2021 and early 2022 organisations have struggled to attract and Health, Safety, Environment and Wellbeing professionals. In order to meet market demands many employers have responded with a 30+% uplift in salary.

Whilst from a jobseeker perspective this salary inflation has been a positive ‘in the moment’ opportunity, there needs to be a lens of realism applied as we move into the next phase of the jobs market.

Increased salaries also lead to increased expectations. Employers expect greater value to be delivered for greater remuneration. If return on investment is not clearly demonstrated then as cost pressure increases further (which it will), business run the risk of having to restructure fixed costs out of the business. This in turn may result in headcount reduction. 

As 2022 progresses, jobseekers need to be mindful to understand their value in the market and not overstate this in accepting or pushing for salaries that are beyond their level of experience and capability as it will add undue pressure on them as they navigate a new role and business in some circumstances.

With Victoria imminently introducing new psychosocial risk legislation (and potential for other states to follow), organisations are quickly realising that they may be under prepared/educated/resourced in this important area. 

In 2022 we are seeing a growing emphasis on informed wellbeing practice. Psychosocial risk has become a clear focus-area across industry and this in turn is creating opportunities for consultants. New roles, such as Chief Wellbeing Officer, are being created and demand for those with a clinical or organisation psychology background is likely to grow in the year ahead.