Food Technologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Food Technologists develop new and improve existing food products, and set standards for producing, packaging and marketing food.
Tasks
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Tests food products for flavour, colour, taste, texture and nutritional content.
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Advises on preserving, processing, packaging, storing and delivering foods.
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Develops quality control procedures and safety standards for the manufacture of food products.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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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, Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 78% of people employed as Food Technologists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 12 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).
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 Food Technologists 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 | Food Technologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 36.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 43.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 11.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 2.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 4.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 79% of Food Technologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria and New South Wales have a large share of employment relative to their 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 Food Technologists 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 67% of the workforce. This is 19 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 | Food Technologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 34.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 26.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.2 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.5 | 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 science majoring in food science, food technology, nutrition or another related field is usually needed to work as a Food Technologist.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Food Technologists | All Jobs Average |
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Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 24.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 58.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 8.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 4.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 4.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.3 | 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 Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists 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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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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61%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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57%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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57%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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55%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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50%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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50%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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50%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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50%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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50%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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45%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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45%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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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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81%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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75%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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74%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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68%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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66%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
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66%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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65%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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65%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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60%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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59%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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54%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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53%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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50%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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49%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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49%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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49%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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47%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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41%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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38%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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38%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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63%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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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%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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61%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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59%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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59%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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59%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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55%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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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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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%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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52%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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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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46%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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43%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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41%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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76%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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76%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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75%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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75%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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75%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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74%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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74%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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74%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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74%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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68%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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66%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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66%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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66%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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64%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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63%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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63%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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53%
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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100%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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33%
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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19%
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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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%
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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64%
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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62%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
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62%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Demands
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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92%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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88%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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88%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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84%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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82%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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80%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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78%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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77%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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75%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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73%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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71%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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71%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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71%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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70%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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68%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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66%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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65%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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, 19-1012.00 - Food Scientists and Technologists.
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.