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Sportspersons

Sportspersons participate in sporting events for monetary gain either as individuals or as members of a team.

Sport & recreationLicensed workANZSCO 4524
13kPeople employed
+13% ▲Growth to 2035
37%Work full time
21Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4524.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

maintaining a high degree of expertise in a particular sportattending regular practice sessions and undertaking private training to maintain the required standard of fitnessdeciding on strategies in consultation with coachesassessing other competitors and conditions at venuescompeting in sporting eventsadhering to the rules and regulations associated with a specific sport
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 4524 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 2,000 more people in sportspersons by 2035 ▲

The field shrank 1% in the year to February 2026, losing about 100 workers. Most of the jobs are in NSW and VIC, with QLD third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4524.More about our sources: How we check our facts
16.1k2025
17.1k2030 PROJ.
18.1k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

There is no single way in. 23% trained through VET, 12% hold a degree.

Both paths are common in this field. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 4524. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

SIS30421Certificate III

Certificate III in Sport - Athlete

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Training Package.

See 6 providers
RGR40221Certificate IV

Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey)

Racing and Breeding Training Package · licensed work.

See 3 providers
PUA20119Certificate II

Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue)

Public Safety.

See 2 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 5 mapped courses
SIS30421Certificate III in Sport - Athlete · 6 providers
RGR40221Certificate IV in Racing (Jockey) · 3 providers
PUA20119Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) · 2 providers
SIS20221Certificate II in Sport - Developing Athlete · 1 provider
RGR40318Certificate IV in Racing (Harness Race Driver) · 1 provider

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

13k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 4524.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

NSW4.9k
VIC3.1k
QLD1.6k
WA1.6k
SA0.7k
ACT0.2k
NT0.2k
TAS0.2k

Occupations near this one

Close to this work but not quite it? Each one has its own page like this.