Dressmakers and Tailors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Dressmakers or Tailors make, alter and repair women's and men's tailored garments, formal wear, couturier clothing, and special occasion wear such as suits, dresses, coats, evening wear and bridal wear.
Specialisations: Costume Maker, Wardrobe Assistant, Wardrobe Coordinator.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Dressmaker or Tailor. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) production or applied fashion design and technology.
Tasks
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Confers with customers to determine material, styles and designs of garments.
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Interprets designs, sketches and samples to determine pattern specifications.
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Cuts out master patterns.
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Lays up and cuts fabric.
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Pins, bastes and drapes garment parts.
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Sews garments.
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Fits basted garments on customers and marks areas requiring alteration.
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Sews buttonholes, and sews on buttons, hooks, eyes and press fasteners to finish garments.
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Pressing and finishing work.
Characteristics
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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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Creative
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Light
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, Clothing Trades Workers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 49% of people employed as Dressmakers and Tailors work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 17 percentage points below 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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Dressmakers and Tailors work 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 | Dressmakers and Tailors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 34.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 27.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.9 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 74% of Dressmakers and Tailors live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Sydney - Inner South West
- Melbourne - West
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - South West.
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 Dressmakers and Tailors is 50 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 84% of the workforce. This is 36 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 | Dressmakers and Tailors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 13.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 15.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 28.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 15.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 11.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 9.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 50 | 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 Dressmaker or Tailor. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) production or applied fashion design and technology.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Textiles, Clothing & Footwear VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Dressmakers and Tailors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 11.0 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 16.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 16.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 22.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 27.1 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Clothing Trades Workers who are hardworking, reliable and work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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45%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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45%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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41%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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39%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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39%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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39%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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39%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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36%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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34%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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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%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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32%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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32%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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30%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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27%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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46%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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44%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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42%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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41%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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41%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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38%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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38%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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35%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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34%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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34%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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26%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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25%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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24%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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20%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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20%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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20%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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15%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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14%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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6%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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54%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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46%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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46%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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46%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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46%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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41%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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39%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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39%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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39%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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38%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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38%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
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38%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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38%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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36%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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34%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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34%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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69%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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68%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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58%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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56%
Working with mechanical equipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
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53%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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51%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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50%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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47%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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46%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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46%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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45%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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44%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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44%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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43%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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43%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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37%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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33%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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32%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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29%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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28%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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57%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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52%
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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33%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
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62%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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62%
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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62%
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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50%
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%
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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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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97%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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95%
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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92%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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92%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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90%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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89%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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88%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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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%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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73%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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70%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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70%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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69%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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68%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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67%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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66%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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63%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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, 51-6052.00 - Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers.
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.