Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals develop, implement and evaluate policies and programs to monitor environmental health and occupational health and safety and related legislation to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, and assist injured staff through the workers' compensation and rehabilitation process.
Tasks
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developing, implementing and reviewing environmental health management plans and occupational health and safety plans
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preparing and implementing plans and strategies for the safe, economic and suitable disposal of commercial, industrial, medical and household wastes
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advising on and enforcing legislation, implementing prevention programs and strategies for communicable diseases, food safety, waste water treatment and disposal systems, recreation and domestic water quality, contaminated and hazardous substances, and minimising air, sea, water and noise pollution to improve health outcomes
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identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in the workplace
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developing, implementing and monitoring programs minimising workplace and environmental pollution involving chemical and physical hazards
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promoting ergonomic principles within the workplace such as matching furniture, equipment and work activities to the needs of employees
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inspecting and auditing workplaces, processes, plant, and chemical and physical hazards for legislative compliance
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training employees in personal protective equipment and safe working procedures
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recording and investigating injuries and equipment damage, and reporting safety performance
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coordinating the return of injured workers into the workplace
Characteristics
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University
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Helping
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Sedentary
-
Light
-
Medium
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 very strongly
- is likely to reach 33,100 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 | 25,800 |
2012 | 27,300 |
2013 | 23,900 |
2014 | 29,700 |
2015 | 22,800 |
2016 | 20,500 |
2017 | 22,600 |
2018 | 31,100 |
2019 | 23,600 |
2020 | 32,400 |
2021 | 28,600 |
2026 | 33,100 |
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
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Around 82% of people employed as Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 16 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 45 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to 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 $1,983 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,638
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,686
Median hourly earnings are $52, 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 | Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,983 | 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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Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals work in industries like:
- Public administration and safety
- Construction
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance.
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 | Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 24.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 21.7 | 25.6 |
QLD | 23.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 16.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 41% of Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals 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.
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 Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals is 44 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 44% of the workforce. This is 4 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 | Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 22.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 26.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 27.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 11.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.0 | 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 formal qualification in occupational health and safety, environmental health, environmental science or another related field is usually needed to work as an Occupational and Environmental Health Professional. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
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 Health Industry and Public Sector VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 19.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 26.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 26.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 15.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 6.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 3.6 | 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 Occupational & Environmental Health Professionals who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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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%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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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%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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54%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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50%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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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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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%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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48%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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79%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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71%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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68%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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66%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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65%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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63%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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62%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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60%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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60%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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58%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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58%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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56%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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55%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
55%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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54%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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53%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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52%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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48%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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43%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
66%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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64%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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59%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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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%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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52%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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45%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
41%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
-
41%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
79%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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76%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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76%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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76%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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75%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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74%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
74%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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71%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
71%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
71%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
70%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
67%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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67%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
65%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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64%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
-
64%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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62%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
60%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
55%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
51%
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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95%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
76%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
57%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
57%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
38%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
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.
-
74%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
71%
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.
-
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.
-
67%
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
-
97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
96%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
93%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
90%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
87%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
87%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
84%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
84%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
83%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
82%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
81%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
78%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
76%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
76%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
72%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
72%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
72%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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, 29-9011.00 - Occupational Health and Safety Specialists.
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.