Audiologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Audiologists provide diagnostic assessment and rehabilitative services related to human hearing defects.
Tasks
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Administers and interprets a wide range of audiometric tests to determine hearing efficiency and locate sites of hearing problems.
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Interprets audiometric test results alongside other medical, social and behavioural diagnostic data.
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Evaluates total response pattern and acoustic tests to distinguish between organic and non-organic hearing loss.
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Plans, directs and participates in counselling, speech reading and other rehabilitation programmes.
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Prescribes appropriate hearing aids and instructing patients in use.
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Helping
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Sedentary
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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, Audiologists and Speech Pathologists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 65% of people employed as Audiologists 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 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to 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 Audiologists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
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 | Audiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 27.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 29.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.8 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 70% of Audiologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Melbourne - Inner East
- Melbourne - Inner South
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Melbourne - South East.
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 Audiologists is 37 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 76% of the workforce. This is 28 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 | Audiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 37.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 29.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.4 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 37 | 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 masters degree in audiology is needed to work as an Audiologist.
Registration with Audiology Australia 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 | Audiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 87.7 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 9.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 1.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.3 | 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 Audiologists and Speech Pathologists who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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71%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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63%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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61%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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61%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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61%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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61%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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57%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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52%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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52%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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46%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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75%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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68%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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67%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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66%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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62%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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61%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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59%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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55%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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50%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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48%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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47%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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36%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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36%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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36%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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31%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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29%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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29%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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29%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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25%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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71%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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70%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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70%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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68%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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68%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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63%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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61%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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59%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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57%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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57%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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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%
Hearing sensitivityTell the difference between sounds.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
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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46%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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45%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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82%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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70%
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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69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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67%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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65%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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63%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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62%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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62%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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61%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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59%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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58%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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58%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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55%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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55%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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53%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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48%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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47%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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47%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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44%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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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90%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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38%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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33%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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24%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Values
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90%
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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81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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79%
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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71%
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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71%
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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71%
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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99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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96%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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95%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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95%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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93%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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92%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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89%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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88%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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86%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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85%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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81%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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77%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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74%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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74%
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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73%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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73%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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72%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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66%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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63%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude 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, 29-1181.00 - Audiologists.
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.