Detectives
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Detectives investigate serious crimes, such as terrorism, homicide, armed robbery, vice and arson, and gather evidence to arrest and prosecute suspected offenders.
Specialisations: Detective Sergeant, Plain Clothes Police Officer.
Experienced Police Officers can undertake further training to become a Detective.
Tasks
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Investigates and prosecutes offences.
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Secures and examines scenes of crimes and accidents to obtain evidence.
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Protects witnesses and investigates official corruption.
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Maintains public order and safety.
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Patrols assigned areas to minimise potential for public disturbance and crime.
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Investigates accidents, crimes, minor offences and citizens' complaints, gathering evidence, and pursuing, arresting and interviewing suspected offenders.
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Tests persons suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and issues infringement notices for traffic offences.
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Directs and re-routes traffic at congested areas.
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Attends community meetings and answers inquiries.
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Gives advice and assistance to victims of crime and their families.
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Maintains records and prepares reports.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Analytical
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Enterprising
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Light
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Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Police, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 93% of people employed as Detectives work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 27 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 Detectives work in the Public administration and safety 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 | Detectives | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 29.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 15.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 65% of Detectives 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:
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 Detectives is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 25% of the workforce. This is 23 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 | Detectives | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 0.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 26.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 43.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 24.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 0.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 39 | 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
Experienced Police Officers can undertake further training to become a Detective.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Public Safety VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Detectives | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 5.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 30.0 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 49.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 4.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 9.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.4 | 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 Police who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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54%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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54%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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37%
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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78%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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74%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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74%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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70%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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62%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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61%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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57%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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52%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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52%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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50%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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49%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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48%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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44%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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41%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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41%
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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39%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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38%
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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35%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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31%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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25%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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61%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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59%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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59%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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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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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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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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54%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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50%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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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%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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45%
Speed of recognitionQuickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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78%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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78%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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77%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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75%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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74%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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71%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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70%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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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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69%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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68%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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67%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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65%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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65%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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64%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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60%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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59%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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57%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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52%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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48%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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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81%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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81%
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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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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52%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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48%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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76%
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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74%
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%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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.
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67%
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.
Demands
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99%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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98%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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97%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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97%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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94%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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93%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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92%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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92%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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91%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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90%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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88%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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87%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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86%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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85%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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84%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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84%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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83%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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82%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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, 33-3021.01 - Police Detectives.
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.