Gas and Petroleum Operators
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Gas or Petroleum Operators operate equipment to pump oil and gas from wellheads, and refine and process petroleum products.
Also known as: Oil and Gas Well Treatment Operator; Oil, Gas and Pipe Tester; or Petroleum and Gas Refining and Pumping Operator.
Specialisations: Gas Compressor Turbine Operator, Petroleum Blending Plant Operator, Petroleum Terminal Plant Operator, Refinery Pipeline Operator.
A certificate III in process plant operations is usually needed to work as a Gas or Petroleum Operator. Some workers complete a traineeship.
Tasks
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Controls equipment that performs continuous and batch processes to process natural gas, manufacture refined petroleum products, and blend petroleum base stocks to produce commercial fuels, lubricating oils and asphalt.
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Controls the preparation, measuring and feeding of raw material and processing agents into plant.
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Patrols and inspects equipment to ensure proper operation and sets operating controls on equipment.
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Analyses samples and readings and records test data.
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Controls records of production, quantities transferred and details of blending and pumping operations.
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Checks equipment for malfunctions and arranges maintenance.
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Writes reports and maintains records on equipment performance, instrument readings and switching operations.
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Carries out routine operating tests.
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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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, Chemical, Gas, Petroleum & Power Plant Operators, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 96% of people employed as Gas and Petroleum Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 30 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 57 hours per week in their main job. This is 13 hours more 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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Gas and Petroleum Operators work 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 | Gas and Petroleum Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 10.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 20.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 29.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 26.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 3.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 52% of Gas and Petroleum Operators live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia and Queensland 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
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The median age of Gas and Petroleum Operators is 44 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 5% of the workforce. This is 43 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 | Gas and Petroleum Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 1.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 20.4 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 30.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 30.4 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 44 | 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
A certificate III in process plant operations is usually needed to work as a Gas or Petroleum Operator. Some workers complete a traineeship.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Resources and Infrastructure Industry, Gas Industry, National Water Industry, Chemical, Hydrocarbons & Refining, Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Gas and Petroleum Operators | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 1.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 7.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 56.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 9.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 7.9 | 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 Boat Builders and Shipwrights who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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68%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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55%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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54%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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54%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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50%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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46%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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43%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
Equipment maintenanceMaintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
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41%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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41%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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39%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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61%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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50%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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46%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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42%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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42%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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41%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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41%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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35%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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31%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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31%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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31%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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29%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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28%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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27%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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26%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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23%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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23%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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22%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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21%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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18%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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55%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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54%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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54%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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54%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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54%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Reaction timeQuickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
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54%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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52%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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48%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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48%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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45%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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43%
Hearing sensitivityTell the difference between sounds.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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84%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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75%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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73%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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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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69%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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66%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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66%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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63%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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60%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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60%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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59%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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59%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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57%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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57%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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53%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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51%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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49%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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48%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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48%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use 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.
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100%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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33%
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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24%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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81%
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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62%
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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52%
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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48%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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43%
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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100%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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98%
Dangerous conditionsWork near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.
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96%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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94%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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94%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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92%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
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91%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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90%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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89%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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89%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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86%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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86%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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86%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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86%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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85%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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84%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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84%
Dangerous equipmentWork near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
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83%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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82%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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82%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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, 51-8093.00 - Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers.
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.