Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons perform surgery to repair and reconstruct muscle and tissue injuries and congenital deformities.
Tasks
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Examines patients to determine the necessity of operations, estimates and explains risks to patients, and selects the best operational procedures.
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Reviews reports on patients' general physical condition, reactions to medications and medical histories.
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Consults with anaesthetists regarding the correct anaesthesia for patients.
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Performs surgical operations.
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Examines instruments, equipment, and surgical set-up to ensure that antiseptic and aseptic methods have been followed.
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Instructs other medical, nursing and associated staff regarding the preparation of patients and instrument and equipment requirements.
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Prescribes post-operative care, and observes and investigates patients' progress.
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Maintains records of operations performed.
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May specialise in particular types of operations.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Surgeons, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 90% of people employed as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 24 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 55 hours per week in their main job. This is 11 hours more 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 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 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 | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 24.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 31.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 18.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 12.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 92% of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
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 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 17% of the workforce. This is 31 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 | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons | All Jobs Average |
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15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 0.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 16.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 32.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 26.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 7.8 | 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
Medical Practitioners need to undertake further training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to become a Plastic or Reconstructive Surgeon.
Registration with the Medical Board of Australia is required.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons | All Jobs Average |
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Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 46.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 52.0 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 0.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 0.9 | 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 Surgeons who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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84%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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71%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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70%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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70%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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70%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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68%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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68%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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66%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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66%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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64%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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63%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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61%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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59%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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57%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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55%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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55%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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52%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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50%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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48%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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97%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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82%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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79%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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75%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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73%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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70%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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70%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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58%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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56%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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54%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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54%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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53%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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51%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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51%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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50%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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49%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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44%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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42%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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39%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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37%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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91%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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86%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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80%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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79%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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75%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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73%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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73%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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70%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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68%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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68%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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66%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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64%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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61%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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61%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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61%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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61%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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59%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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55%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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55%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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94%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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93%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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89%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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82%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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82%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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80%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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78%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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77%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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77%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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74%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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70%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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70%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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68%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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67%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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67%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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66%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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65%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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65%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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62%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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62%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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71%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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43%
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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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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33%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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95%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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95%
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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90%
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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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%
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%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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98%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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98%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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97%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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95%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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95%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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94%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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94%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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94%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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93%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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93%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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90%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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89%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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88%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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87%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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86%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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85%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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84%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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83%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 29-1067.00 - Surgeons.
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.