Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL)
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) play football professionally in competitions.
Specialisations: Australian Rules Footballer, Rugby League Footballer, Rugby Union Footballer, Soccer Player.
Advanced sporting skill is needed to work as a Footballer (Soccer, Rugby or AFL).
Tasks
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Maintains a high degree of expertise in football.
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Adheres to the rules and regulations associated with football.
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Attends regular practice sessions and undertakes private training to maintain the required standard of fitness.
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Decides on strategies in consultation with coaches.
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Assesses other competitors and conditions at venues.
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Competes in sporting events.
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Undertakes sports promotional activities and television appearances.
Characteristics
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Enterprising
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Light
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Medium
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Heavy
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Sportspersons, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 52% of people employed as Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) work in the Arts and recreation services industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 33.2 | 31.6 |
VIC | 32.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 15.9 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 8.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 79% of Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) is 23 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 20 to 24 years.
Females make up 2% of the workforce. This is 46 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 17.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 46.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 34.4 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 1.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 0.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 0.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 0.2 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 23 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
Advanced sporting skill is needed to work as a Footballer (Soccer, Rugby or AFL).
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Sport, Fitness and Recreation VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Footballers (Soccer, Rugby and AFL) | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 0.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 5.3 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 10.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 12.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 61.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 5.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 4.5 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Sportspersons who are motivated, have a positive attitude and have a strong work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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46%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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45%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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43%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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41%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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41%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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36%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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34%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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34%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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27%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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60%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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56%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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53%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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53%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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50%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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48%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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46%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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45%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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45%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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41%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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40%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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40%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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40%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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38%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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36%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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34%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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31%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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30%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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28%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
StaminaExercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
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57%
Dynamic strengthExercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
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57%
Explosive strengthQuickly jump, sprint, or throw an object.
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57%
Whole body coordinationMove your arms, legs, and body together.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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54%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
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50%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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48%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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48%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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46%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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45%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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45%
BalanceKeep your balance or stay upright.
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45%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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43%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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80%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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78%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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72%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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70%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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70%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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70%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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69%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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69%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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69%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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68%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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66%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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65%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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64%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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64%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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62%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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61%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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57%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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51%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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50%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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47%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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67%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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43%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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33%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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81%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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81%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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71%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
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62%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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57%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Demands
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95%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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89%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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89%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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86%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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84%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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84%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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82%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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81%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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81%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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81%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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78%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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77%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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75%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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75%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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74%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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71%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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69%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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68%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 27-2021.00 - Athletes and Sports Competitors.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.