Quantity Surveyors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Quantity Surveyors estimate and monitor construction costs from the project feasibility stage, through tender preparation, to the construction period and beyond.
Also known as: Construction Economist.
A bachelor degree in building surveying, construction management or another related field is usually needed to work as a Quantity Surveyor. In some states, training may also be available through Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Tasks
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Studies architectural and engineering drawings and specifications to estimate total costs, and prepare detailed cost plans and estimates as tools to assist in budgetary control.
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Monitors changes to designs, assesses effects on cost, and measures, values and negotiates variations to designs.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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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, Civil Engineering Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 87% of people employed as Quantity Surveyors work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 21 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 45 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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Quantity Surveyors work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Rental, hiring and real estate services.
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 | Quantity Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 20.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 15.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 2.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 82% of Quantity Surveyors live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Perth - North West
- Brisbane - South
- 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 Quantity Surveyors is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 18% of the workforce. This is 30 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 | Quantity Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.8 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 29.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 6.3 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 39 | 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 bachelor degree in building surveying, construction management or another related field is usually needed to work as a Quantity Surveyor. In some states, training may also be available through Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Registration or licencing may be required.
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 Resources and Infrastructure Industry VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Quantity Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 11.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 63.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 10.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 5.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 8.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.9 | 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 Civil Engineering Professionals who have a positive and enthusiastic attitude and connect well with others.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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61%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
Management of financial resourcesFiguring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.
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54%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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54%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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54%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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52%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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52%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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46%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
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46%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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75%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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68%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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66%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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64%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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63%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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60%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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58%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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57%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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51%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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49%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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47%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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47%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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45%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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44%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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44%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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44%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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34%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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33%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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31%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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29%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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61%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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59%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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59%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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46%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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43%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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76%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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74%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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73%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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73%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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71%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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70%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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69%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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68%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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67%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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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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62%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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62%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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62%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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59%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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58%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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58%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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56%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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56%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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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86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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86%
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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43%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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38%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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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%
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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67%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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64%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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57%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
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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.
Demands
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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87%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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87%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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86%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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85%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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84%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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84%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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82%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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80%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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77%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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77%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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72%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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70%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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69%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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64%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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58%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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, 13-1051.00 - Cost Estimators.
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.