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Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants

ANZSCO ID 899914

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Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,400
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
74%
Female Share
7%
Average age
34
About this data

Summary

Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistants assist Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers to install and maintain electrical and telecommunications systems.

Tasks

  • Installs, maintains, repairs and diagnoses malfunctions of electrical or telecommunications systems.

  • To conform with regulations and safety requirements.

  • Performs a range of manual tasks such as digging, lifting, cutting and laying cable to assist trade workers.

Characteristics

Outlook

Employment 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, Other Miscellaneous Labourers, under the outlook section.

Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 74% of people employed as Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 8 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.

Industries

Main industries

1
Construction
59.7%
2
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
9.7%
3
Manufacturing
6.0%
4
Information Media and Telecommunications
3.8%
5
Other industries
12.0%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

31.6% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

14.6% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

25.8% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.0% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

15.3% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

3.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants All Jobs Average
NSW 31.6 31.6
VIC 14.6 25.6
QLD 25.8 20.0
SA 6.0 7.0
WA 15.3 10.8
TAS 2.0 2.0
NT 3.6 1.0
ACT 1.1 1.9


  • Around 48% of Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Queensland and Western Australia have a large share of employment relative to their 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

Age In Years
34
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
7%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants is 34 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 7% of the workforce. This is 41 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)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants All Jobs Average
15-19 10.0 5.0
20-24 15.5 9.3
25-34 24.6 22.9
35-44 17.5 22.0
45-54 18.3 21.6
55-59 8.0 9.0
60-64 4.5 6.0
65 and Over 1.6 4.2
Median Age 34 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 an Electrical or Telecommunications Trades Assistant. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in electrical or telecommunications.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

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.
Type of Qualification Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.5 10.1
Bachelor degree 3.6 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 4.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 32.1 21.1
Year 12 26.5 18.1
Year 11 8.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 24.7 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 Labourers who are reliable, have a good work ethic and can work well in a team.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 41%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 41%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 39%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 37%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 37%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 37%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 36%

    Installation

    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs.

  • 36%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 34%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 32%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 30%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 29%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 29%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 27%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 71%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 59%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 54%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 53%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 49%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 41%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 39%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 39%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 38%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 38%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 36%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 29%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 29%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 27%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 21%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 21%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 20%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 17%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 14%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 13%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 54%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 54%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 50%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 50%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Balance

    Keep your balance or stay upright.

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 45%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 43%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 43%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 41%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 39%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 39%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 37%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 84%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 76%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 68%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 67%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 62%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 57%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 55%

    Working with electronic equipment

    Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.

  • 55%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 54%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 54%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 53%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 52%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 51%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 47%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 46%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 43%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 42%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 36%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 35%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 32%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

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.

  • 95%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 48%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 38%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 24%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

  • 71%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 67%

    Relationships

    Serve 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.

  • 40%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 33%

    Independence

    Work 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.

  • 33%

    Recognition

    Advancement 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.

  • 29%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:

  • 100%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 93%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 93%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 91%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 91%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 86%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 81%

    Cramped work space

    Work in an awkward position or in cramped work spaces.

  • 81%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 80%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 80%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 80%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 79%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 78%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 78%

    Climbing ladders, scaffolds, or poles

    Spend time climbing ladders, scaffolds, or poles.

  • 77%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 77%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 77%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 76%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 76%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 75%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

Occupational Information Network
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, 47-3013.00 - Helpers--Electricians.

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