Stage Managers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Stage Managers plan, organise, supervise and coordinate the activities of workers responsible for placing sets and properties, and operating lighting and sound equipment as part of film, television or stage productions.
Tasks
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Supervises the positioning of scenery, props and the lighting and sound equipment.
Characteristics
- 212311 Art Directors (Film, Television or Stage)
- 212312 Directors (Film, Television, Radio or Stage)
- 212313 Cinematographers
- 212314 Film and Video Editors
- 212315 Program Directors (Television or Radio)
- 212316 Stage Managers
- 212317 Technical Directors
- 212318 Video Producers
- 212399 Other Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors
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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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Creative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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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, Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 71% of people employed as Stage Managers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 47 hours per week in their main job. This is 3 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Stage Managers work in the Arts and recreation services 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 | Stage Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 42.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 31.7 | 25.6 |
QLD | 11.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 6.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 92% of Stage Managers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their 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 Stage Managers is 34 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 57% of the workforce. This is 9 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 | Stage Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 16.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 34.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 22.8 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 12.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 34 | 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
Experience in the entertainment industry and proven ability is needed to work as a Stage Manager. Some workers also have a university or Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in stage management, theatre, drama, live production or performance.
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 Creative Arts and Culture VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Stage Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 5.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 44.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 18.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 2.7 | 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 Film, Television, Radio and Stage Directors who have strong interpersonal skills, can communicate well with diverse audiences and who are organised and efficient.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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52%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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50%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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50%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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50%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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50%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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48%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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46%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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45%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
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%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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37%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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85%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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68%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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68%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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66%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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62%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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60%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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57%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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53%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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52%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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51%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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50%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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48%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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44%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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42%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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40%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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39%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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36%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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27%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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25%
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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59%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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54%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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50%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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46%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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45%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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74%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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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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72%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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69%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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68%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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68%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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68%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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67%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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63%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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62%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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61%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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59%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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56%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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51%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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50%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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50%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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42%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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40%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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39%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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%
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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90%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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52%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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48%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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29%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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24%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
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95%
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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86%
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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81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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71%
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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38%
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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100%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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96%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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95%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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94%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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94%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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93%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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93%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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91%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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89%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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87%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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87%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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82%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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77%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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76%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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75%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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72%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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71%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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66%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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, 27-2012.02 - Directors- Stage, Motion Pictures, Television, and Radio.
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.