Urban and Regional Planners
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Urban and Regional Planners develop and implement plans and policies for the controlled use of urban and rural land, and advise on economic, environmental and social factors affecting land use.
Specialisations: Land Planner, Town Planner, Traffic and Transport Planner.
A bachelor degree in urban, regional or environmental planning is needed to work as an Urban or Regional Planner. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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compiling and analysing data on economic, legal, political, cultural, demographic, sociological, physical and environmental factors affecting land use
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conferring with government authorities, communities, Architects, social scientists, Legal Professionals, and planning, development and environmental specialists
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devising and recommending use and development of land, and presenting narrative and graphic plans, programs and designs to groups and individuals
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advising governments and organisations on urban and regional planning and resource planning
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reviewing and evaluating environmental impact reports
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staying up-to-date with changes in building and zoning codes, regulations and other legal issues
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may serve as mediators in disputes over planning proposals and projects
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may speak at public meetings and appear before government to explain planning proposals
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Creative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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 16,200 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 | 10,100 |
2012 | 13,600 |
2013 | 10,600 |
2014 | 10,500 |
2015 | 7,900 |
2016 | 14,100 |
2017 | 13,700 |
2018 | 14,000 |
2019 | 15,600 |
2020 | 18,400 |
2021 | 13,600 |
2026 | 16,200 |
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 80% of people employed as Urban and Regional Planners work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points above 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 $2,177 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,821
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,250
Median hourly earnings are $58, 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 | Urban and Regional Planners | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 2,177 | 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 Urban and Regional Planners work in the Public administration and safety industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Urban and Regional Planners | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 26.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 20.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 68% of Urban and Regional Planners live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - City and Inner South
- Brisbane Inner City
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Perth - North 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 Urban and Regional Planners is 38 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 46% of the workforce. This is similar to 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 | Urban and Regional Planners | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 31.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 29.3 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 19.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 38 | 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 urban, regional or environmental planning is needed to work as an Urban or Regional Planner. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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 | Urban and Regional Planners | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 36.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 47.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 5.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 3.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 4.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.8 | 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 Urban and Regional Planners who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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63%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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61%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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61%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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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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57%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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57%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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57%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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55%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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55%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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54%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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46%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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43%
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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76%
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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72%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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68%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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67%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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65%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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63%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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62%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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60%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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58%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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58%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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57%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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53%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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52%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
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50%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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50%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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48%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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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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47%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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45%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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37%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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66%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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63%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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63%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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61%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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59%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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55%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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55%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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52%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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52%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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48%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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87%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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86%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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84%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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84%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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79%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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78%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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78%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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78%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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76%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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76%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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75%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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74%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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74%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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73%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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73%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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70%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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67%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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67%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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62%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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54%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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57%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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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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43%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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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%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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67%
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.
-
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.
-
52%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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99%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
91%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
90%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
89%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
86%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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84%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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79%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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79%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
77%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
75%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
72%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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72%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
71%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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71%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
70%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
67%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
67%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
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, 19-3051.00 - Urban and Regional Planners.
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.