English Beats Maths in the Employability Stakes
STEM, it’s all about STEM apparently but if you really want a job, communication skills beat numeracy.
A study ranked Australia's school subjects by employer demand, salary potential and career pathways, finding English is linked to the greatest number of job opportunities nationwide.
Using Jobs and Skills Australia vacancy data, occupation salary data and career mapping, the analysis connected hundreds of Australian professions back to the school subjects and skills most closely associated with them.
While Science leads for earning potential, English creates the broadest range of career opportunities, highlighting the growing importance of communication skills across the workforce.
"While technical subjects remain critical for many future careers, the data shows that the strongest outcomes come from combining subject knowledge with transferable skills. Communication, critical thinking and problem-solving are the capabilities that allow students to apply what they learn across different industries," said Sreeya Das, Director at Excel Academics who conducted the study.
English Opens 250 Career Pathways, More Than Any Other School Subject
English ranked as Australia's strongest subject for employability, linking to 36,444 national job vacancies across 250 different occupations, the highest of any subject analysed.
Despite often being overshadowed by STEM subjects in career discussions, English outperformed Mathematics (29,510 vacancies) and Information Technology (22,008 vacancies), demonstrating the value employers place on communication, writing and comprehension across a broad range of industries.
The subject also pays an average of $1,977 per week, reinforcing its long-term value beyond the classroom.
Communication and Critical Thinking Dominate Australia's Job Market
Communication & Writing ranked as Australia's most in-demand workplace skill, appearing across more than 435,900 weighted job vacancies.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving followed with 369,951 vacancies, while Attention to Detail ranked third with 340,813.
Together, the findings suggest employers increasingly value transferable skills that can be applied across multiple industries rather than technical expertise alone.
Science Leads Australia's Highest-Paying Career Pathways
While English ranked first for employer demand, Science was linked to the highest-paying careers, with occupations associated with the subject earning an average $2,140 per week.
Humanities & Social Sciences ranked second for salary potential at $2,055, narrowly ahead of Mathematics ($2,034) and Information Technology ($2,031).
The results show that salary potential and employer demand do not always move together, with Science ranking seventh for job demand despite leading on earnings.
Mathematics Combines Strong Demand, High Pay And Career Flexibility
Mathematics emerged as Australia's strongest all-round performer, ranking inside the national top three for employer demand, salary potential and career diversity.
The subject is linked to 29,510 vacancies, 242 occupations and average weekly earnings of $2,034, highlighting its versatility across industries including finance, engineering, technology and data analytics.
Unlike subjects that perform strongly in only one area, Mathematics consistently ranked near the top across every measure analysed.
Research Skills Deliver Australia's Highest Average Salaries
While communication ranked highest for employer demand, Research & Analysis delivered the strongest salary outcomes, with occupations requiring the skill paying an average of $2,448 per week.
Data Analysis & Statistics ranked second at $2,282, followed by Leadership & Management at $2,269.
The findings suggest analytical and decision-making skills continue to attract some of Australia's highest-paid professional opportunities.
Choosing Senior Subjects? Three Things Students Should Consider
Sreeya Das advises, "Students should look beyond the subject name and think about the capabilities they are building. Skills like problem-solving, analysis and communication are valuable across a wide range of careers, regardless of the industry they enter.
"The data shows there isn't one subject that leads to every measure of success. Some subjects create broader career opportunities, while others are linked to higher earning potential. Students should consider where their strengths align with future goals.
"Students don't need to have their entire career mapped out when selecting senior subjects. Building a strong foundation in subjects that develop technical knowledge and transferable skills can help keep opportunities open after school."