Railways Assistants
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Railways' Assistants assist with operating and maintaining facilities at railway stations by updating platform indicators showing train times and destinations, collecting and checking passenger tickets, giving signals for train departures, and cleaning station facilities.
Tasks
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Answers questions from passengers.
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Assists passengers with large luggage, pushchairs and prams.
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Helps people with special needs, such as wheelchair users.
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Check tickets and makes sure people are in the correct place to catch their train.
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May give signalling instructions to train drivers and may clean the station and platform area.
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May assist in the ticket selling office and provide travel information to passengers.
Characteristics
- 899911 Bicycle Mechanics
- 899912 Car Park Attendants
- 899913 Crossing Supervisors
- 899914 Electrical and Telecommunications Trades Assistants
- 899915 Leaflet and Newspaper Deliverers
- 899916 Mechanic's Assistants
- 899917 Railways Assistants
- 899918 Sign Erectors
- 899921 Ticket Collectors and Ushers
- 899922 Trolley Collectors
- 899923 Road Traffic Controllers
- 899999 Labourers (not covered elsewhere)
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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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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Helping
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Light
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Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Other Miscellaneous Labourers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 88% of people employed as Railways Assistants work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 22 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
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 Railways Assistants work in the Transport, postal and warehousing industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Railways Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 56.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 21.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 0.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 0.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 67% of Railways Assistants live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Central Coast (NSW)
- Sydney - Outer South West
- Sydney - Blacktown
- Sydney - Inner South West
- Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains.
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 Railways Assistants is 48 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 21% of the workforce. This is 27 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 | Railways Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 16.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 23.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 29.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 17.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 8.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 48 | 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 Railways Assistant. Although some workers have a certificate III in rail customer service.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Railways Assistants | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 5.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 10.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 9.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 24.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 22.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 6.9 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 20.4 | 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 Labourers who are reliable, have a good work ethic and can work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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54%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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46%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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45%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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41%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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39%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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36%
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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34%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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34%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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34%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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32%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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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%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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29%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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29%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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25%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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54%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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52%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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50%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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38%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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38%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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29%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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25%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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25%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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24%
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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22%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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22%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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20%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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20%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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19%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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18%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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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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17%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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16%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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16%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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15%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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52%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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48%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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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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43%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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43%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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41%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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41%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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41%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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39%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
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39%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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39%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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37%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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37%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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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%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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34%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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32%
Hearing sensitivityTell the difference between sounds.
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27%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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55%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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53%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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46%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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46%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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44%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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43%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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37%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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36%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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34%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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33%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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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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31%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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29%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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29%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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28%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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28%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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27%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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26%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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23%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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22%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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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67%
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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67%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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67%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
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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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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%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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33%
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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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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94%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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83%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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81%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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77%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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76%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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74%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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73%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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72%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
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69%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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68%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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68%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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65%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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65%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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64%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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63%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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61%
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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58%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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57%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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57%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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54%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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, 53-6061.00 - Transportation Attendants, Except Flight Attendants.
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.