Pandemic Job Trends Reshape Property Demand

Australia’s job market has surged since 2020, driven by aged care, logistics, tech and remote work, signalling a fundamental shift in what types of properties we’ll need and where. A dramatic rise in aged and disabled care roles, paired with the decline of inner city retail jobs, shows how Covid-19 has permanently altered both workforce choices and real estate demand.

Over the 5 years leading to February 2025, the Australian workforce expanded by 1.58 million workers, 25% more than the growth seen in the previous five years. Much of this growth came in sectors tied to suburban living and digital retail. Meanwhile, traditional CBD roles such as hospitality and retail shrank sharply, mirroring a widespread shift toward remote work and decentralised lifestyles.

Data from the ABS shows aged and disabled carers had the biggest workforce increase, adding nearly 150,000 roles across 5 years, or roughly 2,500 positions each month. Store-person and delivery van jobs also grew steadily, benefiting from the online shopping boom and requiring more industrial warehouse space over retail floorspace. On the flip side, jobs like checkout operators dropped by over 60,000 due to rising comfort with self-serve technologies, while cleaner and forklift jobs fell too, hints of automation and more permanent remote work patterns.

All signs indicate the pandemic didn't just pause activity, it rerouted key workforce and demographic trends. Roles that support suburban life, in-home services and remotely enabled jobs are flourishing, while inner-city dependent careers seem to be fading. This paves the way for lasting change across residential, commercial, industrial and retail property segments.

Source: The Australian, Hiring Lab, ABS