The tourism direct employment in Australia has exhibited a variable trend over the past decade. From 2013 to 2019, there was a general growth pattern interrupted by a dip in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the sector in 2020, reducing employment substantially. However, the market rebounded strongly in 2021 and continued its recovery into 2022 and 2023, with a significant 5.88% increase in 2023 where employment stood at 5.4% of total employment. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2023 was 0.37%, indicating moderate recovery.

Future trends to monitor include:

The forecasted steady growth with a predicted CAGR of 0.73% over the next five years, pointing towards a recovery phase.
Possible impacts of global economic conditions, geopolitical stability, and future pandemics on the tourism sector.
Government policies and investment in tourism infrastructure, which could further influence employment rates in the industry.