Newspaper and Periodical Editors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Newspaper or Periodical Editors plan and direct editing of publications, such as newspapers, magazines or journals, in accordance with editorial policies and guidelines and accepted rules of grammar, style and format prior to printing and distribution.
Specialisations: Features Editor, News Editor, Pictures Editor, Subeditor, Website/Blog Editor.
A university degree in journalism, writing, communications or another related field is usually needed to work as a Newspaper or Periodical Editor. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Tasks
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Makes decisions about the specific content of publications in conjunction with other senior editors and in accordance with editorial policies and guidelines.
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Reviews copy for publications to ensure conformity with accepted rules of grammar, style and format, coherence of story, and accuracy, legality and probity of content.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Creative
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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, Journalists and Other Writers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 68% of people employed as Newspaper and Periodical Editors work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Newspaper and Periodical Editors work in the Information media and telecommunications industry. They are also employed in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Education and training.
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 | Newspaper and Periodical Editors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 45.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 26.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 13.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 5.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 3.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 80% of Newspaper and Periodical Editors live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Sydney - City and Inner South
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Sydney - Inner West
- Sydney - Eastern Suburbs.
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 Newspaper and Periodical Editors is 39 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 60% of the workforce. This is 12 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Newspaper and Periodical Editors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 30.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 26.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 20.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 39 | 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 university degree in journalism, writing, communications or another related field is usually needed to work as a Newspaper or Periodical Editor. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
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 Creative Arts and Culture VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Newspaper and Periodical Editors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 18.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 50.0 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 9.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 4.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 15.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.5 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.8 | 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 Journalists and Writers who are literate and can interact well with others.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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71%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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70%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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55%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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55%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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52%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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52%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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50%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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48%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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48%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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37%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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32%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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81%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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77%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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56%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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56%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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51%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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50%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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47%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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45%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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44%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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40%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
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37%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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35%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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32%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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32%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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31%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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31%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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29%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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27%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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27%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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24%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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71%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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68%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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66%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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61%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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55%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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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%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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52%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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50%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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48%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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46%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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37%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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80%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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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%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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69%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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64%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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63%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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62%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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61%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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58%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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56%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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55%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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55%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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52%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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49%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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48%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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44%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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44%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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41%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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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90%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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86%
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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57%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
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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.
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76%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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.
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62%
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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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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57%
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
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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98%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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98%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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96%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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92%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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91%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
89%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
89%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
88%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
87%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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85%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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83%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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77%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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75%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
75%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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74%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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67%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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67%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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, 27-3041.00 - Editors.
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.