Park Rangers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Park Rangers assist in controlling a State or national park, scenic area, historic site, nature reserve, recreation area or conservation reserve in accordance with authorised policies and priorities.
Specialisations: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Ranger.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Park Ranger. Although some workers have a university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in land or park management or a similar field.
Tasks
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Implements policies and organises activities in designated parks and other areas to conserve and protect natural and cultural heritage.
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Participates in management planning by providing environmental information and making inventories of plants, animals and items of cultural and heritage significance.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Creative
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Helping
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Medium
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Heavy
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, Environmental Scientists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 81% of people employed as Park Rangers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 15 percentage points above 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).
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 Park Rangers work in the Arts and recreation services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Park Rangers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 13.0 | 31.6 |
VIC | 17.7 | 25.6 |
QLD | 31.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 3.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 15.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 83% of Park Rangers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
The Northern Territory and Queensland 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 Park Rangers is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 25% of the workforce. This is 23 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 | Park Rangers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 20.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 28.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 24.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.6 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 42 | 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
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Park Ranger. Although some workers have a university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in land or park management or a similar field.
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 Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management and Sustainability VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Park Rangers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 28.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 21.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 9.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 13.7 | 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 Environmental Scientists who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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48%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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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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45%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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45%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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39%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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36%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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34%
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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79%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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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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73%
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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68%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
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63%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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55%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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54%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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54%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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50%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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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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46%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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45%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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45%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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44%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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43%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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43%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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41%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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33%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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27%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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23%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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59%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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48%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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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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46%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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45%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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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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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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43%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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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%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
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39%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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74%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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72%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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71%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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71%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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67%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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66%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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66%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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66%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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65%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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61%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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57%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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55%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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54%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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48%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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48%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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42%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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42%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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37%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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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67%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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62%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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52%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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52%
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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24%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Values
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71%
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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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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57%
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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57%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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43%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
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99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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95%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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95%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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92%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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92%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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89%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
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89%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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87%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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87%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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87%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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86%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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85%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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85%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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78%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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77%
Outdoors, under coverWork outdoors, under cover (e.g., in an open shed).
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76%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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75%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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74%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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72%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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72%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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, 19-1031.03 - Park Naturalists.
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.