Organisational Psychologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Organisational Psychologists apply psychological principles and techniques to study occupational behaviour, working conditions and organisational structure, and solve problems of work performance and organisational design.
Tasks
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Develops interview techniques, psychological tests and other aids in workplace selection, placement, appraisal and promotion.
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Conducts surveys and research studies on job design, work groups, morale, motivation, supervision and management.
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Performs job analyses and establishes job requirements by observing and interviewing employees and managers.
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Creative
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Enterprising
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Helping
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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, Psychologists and Psychotherapists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 65% of people employed as Organisational Psychologists 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 45 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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Organisational Psychologists work in industries like:
- Health care and social assistance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Administrative and support services.
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 | Organisational Psychologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.2 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.9 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 8.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 4.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 89% of Organisational Psychologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
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 Organisational Psychologists is 41 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 70% of the workforce. This is 22 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 | Organisational Psychologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 30.3 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 29.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 15.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 41 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A specialised postgraduate degree in psychology and a period of supervised practice is needed to work as an Organisational Psychologist.
Registration with the Psychology 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.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Organisational Psychologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 75.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 23.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 0.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 0.0 | 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 Psychologists who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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68%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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68%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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66%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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66%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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59%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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59%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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59%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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59%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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59%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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57%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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57%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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57%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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57%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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57%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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55%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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55%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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54%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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48%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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91%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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90%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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87%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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77%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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74%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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72%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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69%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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60%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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59%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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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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50%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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47%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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44%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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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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34%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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32%
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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27%
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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24%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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15%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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15%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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70%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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70%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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68%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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68%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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66%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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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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59%
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%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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55%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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55%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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54%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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54%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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48%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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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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39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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39%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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88%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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86%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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83%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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81%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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80%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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78%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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77%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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77%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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75%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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75%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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74%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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73%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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73%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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72%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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67%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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65%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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64%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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63%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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52%
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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90%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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76%
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%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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57%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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14%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
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88%
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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86%
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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81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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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.
Demands
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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93%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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93%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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91%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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86%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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85%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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85%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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83%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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81%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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80%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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78%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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76%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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75%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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68%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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66%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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65%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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, 19-3032.00 - Industrial-Organizational Psychologists.
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.