Bakers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Bakers prepare and bake bread loaves and rolls.
Specialisations: Doughmaker.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Baker. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in retail baking or plant baking. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Tasks
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Checks the cleanliness of equipment and operating site to ensure compliance with health and safety regulation.
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Checks quality of raw materials and weighs ingredients.
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Implements appropriate baking techniques.
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Prepares pastry fillings.
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Monitors oven temperature and products appearance.
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Co-ordinates the forming, loading, baking, unloading, de-panning and cooling of batches of breads, rolls and pastry products.
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Glazes buns and pastries, and decorating cakes with cream and icing.
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Operating machines which roll and mould dough and cut biscuits.
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Empties, cleans and greases baking trays, tins and other cooking equipment.
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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Administrative
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Medium
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Heavy
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, Bakers and Pastrycooks, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 73% of people employed as Bakers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 7 percentage points above 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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Most Bakers work in the Manufacturing 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 | Bakers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 28.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 18.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 41% of Bakers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
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 Bakers 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 23% of the workforce. This is 25 percentage points below 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 | Bakers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 6.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 14.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 29.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.7 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 17.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.6 | 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
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Baker. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in retail baking or plant baking. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Tourism, Travel and Hospitality VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Bakers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 1.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 6.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 42.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 20.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 16.4 | 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 Bakers and Pastrycooks who are reliable, motivated and are willing to take direction.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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41%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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39%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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39%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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39%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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37%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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32%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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32%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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30%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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30%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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29%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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29%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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29%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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27%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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18%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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61%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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57%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
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51%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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41%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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39%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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37%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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33%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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32%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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31%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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29%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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28%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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27%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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24%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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24%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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24%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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22%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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20%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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20%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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19%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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14%
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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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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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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45%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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41%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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41%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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41%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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41%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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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%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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39%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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37%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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36%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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36%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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54%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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50%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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50%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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46%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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41%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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40%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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38%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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38%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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38%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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38%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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38%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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37%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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36%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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35%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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34%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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30%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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29%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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28%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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23%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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22%
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%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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57%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
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%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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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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52%
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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48%
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.
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43%
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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43%
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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36%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Demands
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88%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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88%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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86%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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85%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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85%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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84%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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83%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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81%
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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80%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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78%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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77%
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stingsBe exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
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75%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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75%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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74%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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74%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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73%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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72%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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71%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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68%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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, 51-3011.00 - Bakers.
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.