Checkout Operators
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Checkout Operators operate cash registers and receive payments for goods purchased by customers.
Specialisations: Service Station Console Operator.
Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Checkout Operator. Some workers have a certificate I or II in retail services.
Tasks
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Scans, weighs and records prices of goods.
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Receives and processes payments for goods and services by cash, cheques, gift vouchers, credit and debit cards and other payment types.
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Issues sales dockets and gives change.
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Maintains supplies of change, wrapping and other materials used at checkouts.
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Counts and records money received and balances against register sales records.
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
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, Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 13% of people employed as Checkout Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 53 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than 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 Checkout Operators work in the Retail trade industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Checkout Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 27.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 25.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 12.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Checkout Operators live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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 Checkout Operators is 21 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 15 to 19 years.
Females make up 75% of the workforce. This is 27 percentage points above 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 | Checkout Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 41.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 19.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 13.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 8.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 9.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 21 | 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
Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Checkout Operator. Some workers have a certificate I or II in retail services.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Retail Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Checkout Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 6.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 4.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 36.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 14.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 27.2 | 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 Checkout Operators and Office Cashiers who interact well with others, provide good customer service and are reliable.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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41%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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39%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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37%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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36%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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36%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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36%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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34%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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34%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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32%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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30%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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30%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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29%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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29%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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29%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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27%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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27%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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57%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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48%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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38%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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38%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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34%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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32%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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28%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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27%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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23%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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21%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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20%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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17%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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16%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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15%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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15%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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15%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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14%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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14%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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14%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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14%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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50%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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46%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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46%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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43%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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41%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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41%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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41%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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37%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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37%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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37%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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36%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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36%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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36%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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34%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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32%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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32%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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32%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
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29%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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65%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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56%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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54%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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51%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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45%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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41%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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41%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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39%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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39%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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38%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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38%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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36%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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36%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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34%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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33%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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32%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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32%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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29%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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29%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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28%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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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95%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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62%
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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38%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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38%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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19%
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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67%
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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52%
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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38%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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38%
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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31%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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29%
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.
Demands
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95%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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94%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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93%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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91%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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89%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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83%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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82%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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82%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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80%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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80%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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77%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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74%
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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69%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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69%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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66%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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65%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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64%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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63%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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60%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
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56%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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, 41-2011.00 - Cashiers.
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.