Occupational Therapists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Occupational Therapists assess functional limitations of people resulting from illnesses and disabilities, and provide therapy to enable people to perform their daily activities and occupations.
Tasks
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assessing clients' emotional, psychological, developmental and physical capabilities using clinical observations and standardised tests
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assessing clients' functional potential in their home, leisure, work and school environments, and recommending environmental adaptations to maximise their performance
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planning and directing programs through the use of vocational, recreational, remedial, social and educational activities on an individual and group basis
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providing advice to family members, carers, employers and teachers about adapting clients' home, leisure, work and school environments
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providing adaptive equipment, such as wheel chairs and splints, to assist clients to overcome their functional limitations
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working with other Health Professionals in overall case management of clients
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working with other professionals in providing specialist advice to specific client groups such as those requiring driver rehabilitation, third-party compensation and medico-legal representation
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recording clients' progress and maintaining professional relationships in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and ethical guidelines
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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 moderately
- is likely to reach 25,600 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 | 11,100 |
2012 | 12,800 |
2013 | 10,500 |
2014 | 11,000 |
2015 | 18,600 |
2016 | 11,600 |
2017 | 15,800 |
2018 | 17,300 |
2019 | 22,500 |
2020 | 22,200 |
2021 | 23,900 |
2026 | 25,600 |
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 58% of people employed as Occupational Therapists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 8 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,749 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,401
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,882
Median hourly earnings are $44, 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. 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 Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,749 | 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 Occupational Therapists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
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 Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 20.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 64% of Occupational Therapists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Perth - North West
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Melbourne - Inner South
- Brisbane - South.
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 Therapists is 34 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 92% of the workforce. This is 44 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 | Occupational Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 10.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 42.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 25.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 14.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 34 | 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 occupational therapy is needed to work as an Occupational Therapist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is required.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Occupational Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 22.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 75.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 1.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 0.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 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 Occupational Therapists who are mature, professional, and efficient and can solve problems.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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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%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
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%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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54%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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52%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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50%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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50%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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45%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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43%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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82%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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82%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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71%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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67%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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64%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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63%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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58%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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49%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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49%
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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46%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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46%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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43%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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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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41%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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39%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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36%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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30%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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25%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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22%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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12%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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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%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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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%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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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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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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54%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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50%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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48%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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41%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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39%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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75%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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74%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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70%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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69%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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67%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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67%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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67%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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65%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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64%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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63%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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61%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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60%
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.
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52%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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52%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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51%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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51%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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47%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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62%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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48%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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43%
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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43%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
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100%
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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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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83%
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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81%
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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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.
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62%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
Demands
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99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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96%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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96%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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95%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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94%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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93%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
-
90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
90%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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88%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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88%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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86%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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86%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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86%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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85%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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83%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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81%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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81%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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71%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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70%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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67%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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, 29-1122.00 - Occupational Therapists.
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.