Dental Therapists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Dental Therapists examine and treat diseases of the teeth in preschool, primary and secondary school children under the general supervision of a Dentist.
Specialisations: Oral Health Therapist.
A bachelor degree in oral health is usually needed to work as a Dental Therapist.
Tasks
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Provides educational programmes to motivate children, parents and the community in matters relating to oral health.
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Provides fluoride therapy by applying re-mineralising solutions and desensitising agents.
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Removes deposits from teeth.
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Applies non-invasive fissure sealants to teeth.
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Takes impressions of the mouth.
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Takes dental radiographs.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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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. 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, Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 49% of people employed as Dental Therapists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 17 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less 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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Most Dental Therapists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
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 | Dental Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 19.0 | 31.6 |
VIC | 19.7 | 25.6 |
QLD | 26.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 11.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 18.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Dental Therapists live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia, Queensland 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 Dental Therapists is 38 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 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 | Dental Therapists | All Jobs Average |
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15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 11.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 33.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 15.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 14.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 38 | 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 oral health is usually needed to work as a Dental Therapist.
Registration with the Dental Board of Australia is required.
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 VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Dental Therapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 63.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 31.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.4 | 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 Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists who are caring, compassionate and empathetic and can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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52%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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48%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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48%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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48%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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45%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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45%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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37%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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37%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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30%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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74%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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65%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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63%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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54%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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50%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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49%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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48%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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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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44%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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41%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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37%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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35%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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32%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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32%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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29%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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29%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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29%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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28%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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28%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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28%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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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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55%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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52%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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50%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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48%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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41%
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%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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74%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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72%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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71%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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71%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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68%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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66%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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65%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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65%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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63%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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62%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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59%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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58%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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56%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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55%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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52%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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52%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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49%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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45%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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44%
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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86%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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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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43%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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29%
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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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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95%
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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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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67%
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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64%
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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62%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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52%
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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100%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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100%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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100%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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100%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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99%
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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97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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97%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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95%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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93%
RadiationBe exposed to radiation.
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93%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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91%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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88%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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88%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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86%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
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84%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
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82%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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80%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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78%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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76%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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, 29-2021.00 - Dental Hygienists.
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.