Proof Readers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Proof Readers read draft copies and proofs, detect errors and mark corrections to grammar, typing and composition.
Tasks
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Reviews, proofs and edits content (written or digital) across a variety of media and industries; ensuring correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, usage, consistency and brand voice in the final product.
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Ensures the accuracy of all referenced facts (e.g. dates, pages and values) and double-checks cross-referenced materials (e.g. websites and newspapers).
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Reviews content and style across company-wide work to ensure campaign, product and brand consistency.
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Attends team meetings, provides constructive editorial input and communicates with team members to yield consistent, accurate and high-quality work products.
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Improves editing processes by evaluating and recommending changes to create efficiencies.
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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Administrative
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Sedentary
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Other Clerical & Administrative Workers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 23% of people employed as Proof Readers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 43 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 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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Proof Readers work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Information media and telecommunications
- Manufacturing
- Education and training.
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 | Proof Readers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 29.1 | 25.6 |
QLD | 20.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 6.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 63% of Proof Readers live in capital cities, similar to 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 Proof Readers is 53 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 65 years and over.
Females make up 77% of the workforce. This is 29 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 | Proof Readers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 11.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 13.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 19.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 14.1 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 22.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 53 | 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 Proof Reader. Although some workers have a university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in communications, media, literature or journalism.
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 Property Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Proof Readers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 21.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 29.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 12.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 6.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 15.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 6.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 9.1 | 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 Clerical and Administrative Workers who have good computer skills, can communicate clearly and can interact with a variety of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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61%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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45%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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45%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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43%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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39%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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36%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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34%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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34%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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32%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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30%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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27%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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27%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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21%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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20%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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18%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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16%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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14%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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14%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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14%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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71%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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46%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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44%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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41%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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31%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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27%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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26%
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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24%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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23%
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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21%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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17%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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16%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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14%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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13%
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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12%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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11%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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10%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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7%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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7%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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7%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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43%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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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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41%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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39%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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37%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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36%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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34%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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34%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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23%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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21%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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20%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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18%
Speed of recognitionQuickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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14%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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61%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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58%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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54%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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54%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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52%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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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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47%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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43%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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37%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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37%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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37%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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36%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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33%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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32%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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30%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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29%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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23%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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22%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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15%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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6%
Working with electronic equipmentServicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.
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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95%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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48%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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38%
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%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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24%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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19%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
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76%
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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52%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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52%
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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52%
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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52%
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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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.
Demands
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98%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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97%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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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%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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93%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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91%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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90%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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85%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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80%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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76%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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75%
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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73%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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72%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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64%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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62%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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61%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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53%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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52%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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, 43-9081.00 - Proofreaders and Copy Markers.
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.