Personal Care Assistants
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Personal Care Assistants provide routine personal care services to people in a range of health care facilities or in a person's home.
Tasks
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Assists with personal care needs such as showering, dressing, eating, mobility, communication.
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Participates in care planning.
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Follows therapy plans i.e. interventions to assist those with dementia and behavioural problems.
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Observes/reports changes in patients' condition.
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Reports complaints about care.
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Assists with rehabilitation exercises, basic treatment and delivery of medications.
Characteristics
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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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Helping
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Medium
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Heavy
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Very 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, Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 31% of people employed as Personal Care Assistants work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 35 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 43 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 Personal Care Assistants 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 | Personal Care Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 16.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 43.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 9.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 11.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.9 | 1.9 |
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Around 61% of Personal Care Assistants live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - West
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Melbourne - North East
- Perth - South East.
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 Personal Care Assistants 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 85% of the workforce. This is 37 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 | Personal Care Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.5 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 8.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 20.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 19.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 24.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 12.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 8.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.1 | 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
Extensive experience or a certificate III or IV in a related field (like individual support or aged care) is needed to work as a Personal Care Assistant.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Health Industry and Community Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Personal Care Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 13.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 43.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 11.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 10.1 | 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 Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and physically fit with good people skills.
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%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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46%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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46%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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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%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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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%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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41%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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39%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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32%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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30%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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29%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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57%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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42%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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41%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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36%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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33%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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30%
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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28%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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28%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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27%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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27%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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24%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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24%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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23%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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23%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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23%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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21%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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21%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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20%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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18%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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16%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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50%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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50%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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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%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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43%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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41%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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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.
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34%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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76%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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72%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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66%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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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%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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65%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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63%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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59%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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56%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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54%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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53%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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48%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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48%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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47%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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47%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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46%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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45%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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44%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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43%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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39%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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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71%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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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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33%
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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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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29%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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62%
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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57%
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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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.
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36%
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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33%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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29%
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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87%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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87%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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86%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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84%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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84%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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84%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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79%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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77%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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75%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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74%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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74%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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72%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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72%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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71%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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71%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
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70%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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69%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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69%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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67%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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66%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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, 31-1011.00 - Home Health Aides.
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.