The data indicates that the number of higher education researchers in Australia is projected to decline from 67.67 thousand in 2024 to 66.16 thousand by 2028. This represents a continual decrease in Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researchers over the five-year period. In 2023, the number of researchers stood at 68.05 thousand.
The year-on-year variations forecast a consistent decline: from 67.67 thousand in 2024 to 67.29 thousand in 2025 (-0.56%), 66.91 thousand in 2026 (-0.56%), 66.53 thousand in 2027 (-0.57%), and 66.16 thousand in 2028 (-0.56%). The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over these five years is -0.68% per year, illustrating a gradual decrease.
Future trends to watch for include factors that could further influence this downward trajectory, such as changes in government funding, shifts in higher education policies, adoption of AI and automation in research, and international collaboration opportunities. Monitoring these variables will be pivotal for understanding and potentially mitigating the decline in researcher numbers.
