Production Managers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Production Managers plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the production activities of forestry, manufacturing and mining organisations including physical and human resources.
Tasks
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determining, implementing and monitoring production strategies, policies and plans
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planning details of production activities in terms of output quality and quantity, cost, time available and labour requirements
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controlling the operation of production plant and quality procedures through planning of maintenance, designation of operating hours and supply of parts and tools
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monitoring production output and costs, and adjusting processes and resources to minimise costs
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informing other Managers about production matters
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overseeing the acquisition and installation of new plant and equipment
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directing research into production methods, and recommending and implementing initiatives
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controlling the preparation of production records and reports
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coordinating the implementation of occupational health and safety requirements
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directing staff activities and monitoring their performance
Characteristics
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University
-
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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Very Heavy
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow strongly
- is likely to reach 84,800 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 55,400 |
2012 | 60,400 |
2013 | 54,400 |
2014 | 52,400 |
2015 | 55,300 |
2016 | 65,600 |
2017 | 50,700 |
2018 | 54,900 |
2019 | 58,300 |
2020 | 70,000 |
2021 | 75,000 |
2026 | 84,800 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 94% of people employed as Production Managers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 28 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $2,332 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,978
- 1 in 4 earn more than $3,213
Median hourly earnings are $56, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Production Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 2,332 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Production Managers work in the Manufacturing industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Production Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 28.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 28.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 60% of Production Managers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Melbourne - West
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby.
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 Production Managers is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 16% of the workforce. This is 32 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 | Production Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 1.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 16.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 29.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 31.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 11.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 45 | 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 essential to work as a Production Manager. Although most workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a university degree.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Production Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 8.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 14.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 28.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 14.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 11.5 | 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 Production Managers who are reliable, organised and can communicate clearly. Employers also value leadership and planning skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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70%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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64%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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63%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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63%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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61%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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59%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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57%
Management of financial resourcesFiguring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.
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57%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
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55%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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55%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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54%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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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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54%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
50%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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50%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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80%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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76%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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69%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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66%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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66%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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63%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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60%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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59%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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57%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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52%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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49%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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43%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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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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39%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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38%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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35%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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35%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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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%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
61%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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61%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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54%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
54%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
48%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
-
45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
43%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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41%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
83%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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78%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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76%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
75%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
75%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
73%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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72%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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72%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
70%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
-
70%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
69%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
-
67%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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67%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
66%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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65%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
64%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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59%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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58%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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58%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
-
53%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process 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.
-
100%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
48%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
38%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
86%
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.
-
81%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
76%
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.
-
71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
71%
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.
-
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.
Demands
-
100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
96%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
93%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
93%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
92%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
92%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
91%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
91%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
91%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
87%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
86%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
83%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
77%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
72%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
72%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
72%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
69%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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, 11-3051.00 - Industrial Production Managers.
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.