Metallurgists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Metallurgists research, develop, control and provide advice on processes used in extracting metals from their ores, and processes used for casting, alloying, heat treating or welding refined metals, alloys and other materials to produce commercial metal products or develop new alloys and processes.
Specialisations: Hydrometallurgical Engineer, Metallographer, Pyrometallurgical Engineer, Radiological Metallurgist.
A bachelor degree in metallurgical or chemical engineering, or a science degree majoring in metallurgy is needed to work as a Metallurgist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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Measures and records data on performance of metals or metal combinations.
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Conducts microscopic, x-ray, x-ray diffraction and spectrographic studies of metals and alloys.
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Evaluates influences of exotic or unusual metals.
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Studies effect of radiation on metals exposed to space environment and nuclear reactors and joining of diverse materials to form complex structures.
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Experiments in power metallurgy and the process of compressing metallic powders and sintering them at high temperatures.
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Evaluates properties of metals and determines type of metal to be used.
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Advises on shortcomings of metals in use and tests for anticipated use, and tests alloys to study engineering properties and ensure compliance with standards.
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Develops hot-working and cooling processes to obtain desired characteristics.
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Gathers information and consults with engineers and company officials to produce alloys at minimum cost, to minimise air pollution and to implement testing procedures.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Enterprising
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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, Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 87% of people employed as Metallurgists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 21 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 49 hours per week in their main job. This is 5 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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Metallurgists 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 | Metallurgists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 17.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 11.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 11.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 10.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 46.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 41% of Metallurgists live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia and South 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
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The median age of Metallurgists is 41 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 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 | Metallurgists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.8 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 30.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 23.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 6.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 41 | 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 bachelor degree in metallurgical or chemical engineering, or a science degree majoring in metallurgy is needed to work as a Metallurgist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Metallurgists | All Jobs Average |
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Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 24.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 63.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 2.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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 Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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66%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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64%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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64%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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63%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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63%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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61%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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59%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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57%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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57%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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52%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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50%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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50%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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46%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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87%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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82%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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78%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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78%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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71%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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70%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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67%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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66%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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64%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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56%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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51%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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43%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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41%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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41%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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38%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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37%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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37%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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35%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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35%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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70%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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68%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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68%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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66%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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66%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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66%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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64%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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63%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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61%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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61%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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59%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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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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48%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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48%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
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.
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82%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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82%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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81%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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81%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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79%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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79%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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77%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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75%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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74%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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73%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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71%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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68%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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68%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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67%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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66%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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66%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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63%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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63%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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62%
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.
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100%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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86%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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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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48%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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38%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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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76%
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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76%
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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71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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67%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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43%
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.
Demands
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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92%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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85%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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83%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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83%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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82%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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77%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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76%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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71%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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71%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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71%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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70%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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68%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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63%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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63%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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63%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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63%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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, 17-2131.00 - Materials Engineers.
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.