Physiotherapists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Physiotherapists assess, treat and prevent disorders in human movement caused by injury or disease.
Also known as: Physical Therapist.
Specialisations: Aquatic Physiotherapist, Cardiothoracic Physiotherapist, Continence and Women's Health Physiotherapist, Gerentological Physiotherapist, Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Neurological Physiotherapist, Occupational Health Physiotherapist, Paediatric Physiotherapist, Sports Physiotherapist.
A bachelor degree in physiotherapy is needed to work as a Physiotherapist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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administering muscle, nerve, joint and functional ability tests to identify and assess physical problems of patients
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designing treatment programs to address patients' problems
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treating patients to reduce pain, improve circulation, strengthen muscles, improve cardiothoracic, cardiovascular and respiratory functions, restore joint mobility, and improve balance and coordination
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using the therapeutic properties of exercise, heat, cold, massage, manipulation, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, ultraviolet and infra-red light and ultrasound in the treatment of patients
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reviewing, continually monitoring, assessing and evaluating programs and treatments
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consulting with other Health Professionals as required about patients' problems, needs and progress
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instructing patients and their families in procedures to be continued at home
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recording treatments given and patients' responses and progress
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developing and implementing screening and preventative health promotion programs
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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Light
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Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow very strongly
- is likely to reach 42,200 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 16,800 |
2012 | 14,900 |
2013 | 16,900 |
2014 | 21,600 |
2015 | 27,000 |
2016 | 21,500 |
2017 | 28,700 |
2018 | 26,400 |
2019 | 35,600 |
2020 | 24,900 |
2021 | 32,800 |
2026 | 42,200 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 63% of people employed as Physiotherapists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to 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).
More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $1,701 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,346
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,296
Median hourly earnings are $45, this is more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Physiotherapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,701 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Physiotherapists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Physiotherapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 30.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 25.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.8 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.8 | 1.9 |
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Around 69% of Physiotherapists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Melbourne - Inner South
- Adelaide - Central and Hills
- Perth - North West
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby.
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 Physiotherapists is 35 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 67% of the workforce. This is 19 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 | Physiotherapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 9.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 39.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 22.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 15.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.0 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 35 | 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 physiotherapy is needed to work as a Physiotherapist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is required.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Physiotherapists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 32.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 63.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 2.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.2 | 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 Physiotherapists who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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64%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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54%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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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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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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52%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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48%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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46%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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46%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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45%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
71%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
70%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
70%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
-
68%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
59%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
58%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
57%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
49%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
46%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
45%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
42%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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40%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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39%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
39%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
36%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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35%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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35%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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33%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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30%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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24%
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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68%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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63%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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63%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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61%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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61%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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61%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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48%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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46%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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45%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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45%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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45%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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75%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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75%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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73%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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69%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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69%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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69%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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66%
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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64%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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63%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
63%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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61%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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60%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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59%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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55%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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55%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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53%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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52%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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49%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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47%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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100%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
81%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
62%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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43%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually 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.
-
33%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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95%
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.
-
81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
81%
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.
-
76%
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.
-
76%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
67%
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%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
100%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
100%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
92%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
92%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
91%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
89%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
85%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
83%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
82%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
79%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
79%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
74%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
74%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
-
72%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
72%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
68%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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, 29-1123.00 - Physical Therapists.
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.