Pathology Collectors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Pathology Collectors extract, collect, label and preserve blood and other specimens from patients for laboratory analysis.
Specialisations: Blood Collector.
A certificate III in pathology collection is usually needed to work as a Pathology Collector. Some workers have a university qualification.
Tasks
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Greet donors.
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Records donors' personal details, including their weight, age, blood type and contact details.
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Explains the procedure to donors and checks their personal details.
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Takes a finger-prick test to check the donor's haemoglobin (red blood cells) and ensure that iron levels in the blood are normal.
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Takes blood from donors.
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Informs donors of emergency medical contacts for potential side-effects of donating blood.
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Cares for donors who may be feeling dizzy or have another adverse reaction.
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Provides refreshments for donors, and ensures they absorb enough sugar back into their system.
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Maintains machinery and orders supplies.
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Advertises blood collection days.
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Drives a blood bank collection vehicle.
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Gives speeches about donating blood.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Helping
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Light
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Medium
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, Medical Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 41% of people employed as Pathology Collectors work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 25 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 Pathology Collectors 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 | Pathology Collectors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 31.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 25.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Pathology Collectors live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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 Pathology Collectors is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 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 | Pathology Collectors | All Jobs Average |
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15-19 | 0.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 18.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 27.4 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 13.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.9 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.5 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 45 | 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 certificate III in pathology collection is usually needed to work as a Pathology Collector. Some workers have a university qualification.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Health Industry and Laboratory Operations VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Pathology Collectors | All Jobs Average |
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Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 3.7 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 42.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 10.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 6.5 | 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 Medical Technicians who have good people skills, a high attention to detail and are accurate.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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48%
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%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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41%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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37%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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37%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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34%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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34%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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34%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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32%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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30%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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72%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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61%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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58%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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54%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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52%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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44%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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41%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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40%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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37%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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35%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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34%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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33%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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33%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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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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31%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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31%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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27%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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27%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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22%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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20%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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52%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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48%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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48%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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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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46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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46%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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43%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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41%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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41%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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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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39%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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37%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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34%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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74%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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71%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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68%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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62%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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62%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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59%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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57%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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54%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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54%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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54%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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54%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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53%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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52%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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52%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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50%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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50%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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49%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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46%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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46%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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44%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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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81%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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71%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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57%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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57%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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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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67%
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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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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57%
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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50%
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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43%
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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38%
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.
Demands
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98%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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97%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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94%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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93%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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91%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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89%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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88%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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86%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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85%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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85%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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84%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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84%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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82%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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82%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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80%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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80%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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, 31-9097.00 - Phlebotomists.
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.