Glass Production Machine Operators

ANZSCO ID 711113

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
1,100
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
94%
Female Share
4%
Average age
42

Summary

Glass Production Machine Operators operate machines to manufacture molten glass and shape glassware products, such as containers, sheet glass, structural and stained glass, glass lenses and prisms.

Specialisations: Glass Furnace Operator, Glass Laminating Operator, Glass Maker, Glass Melt Operator, Glass Toughening Operator, Glassware Maker.

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Glass Production Machine Operator. Some workers have a certificate II in manufactured mineral products.

Tasks

  • Sets up and operates glass-making machines to produce molten glass, and regulate temperature of molten glass.

  • Presses and blows glass into moulds to form glassware products.

  • Collects and examines samples for conformity to specifications and adjusts machine settings accordingly.

Characteristics

Job Type
Machinery Operators And Drivers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Creative
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment 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, Clay, Concrete, Glass & Stone Machine Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 94% of people employed as Glass Production Machine Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 28 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

1
Manufacturing
74.9%
2
Construction
6.2%
3
Wholesale Trade
5.9%
4
Administrative and Support Services
1.7%
5
Other industries
2.8%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

25.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

33.2% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

21.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

13.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

6.2% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.7% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.3% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.5% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Glass Production Machine Operators All Jobs Average
NSW 25.0 31.6
VIC 33.2 25.6
QLD 21.0 20.0
SA 13.1 7.0
WA 6.2 10.8
TAS 0.7 2.0
NT 0.3 1.0
ACT 0.5 1.9


  • Around 74% of Glass Production Machine Operators live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    Victoria and South Australia 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

Age In Years
42
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
4%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Glass Production Machine Operators is 42 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 4% of the workforce. This is 44 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)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Glass Production Machine Operators All Jobs Average
15-19 0.9 5.0
20-24 6.5 9.3
25-34 21.3 22.9
35-44 30.5 22.0
45-54 26.0 21.6
55-59 9.4 9.0
60-64 3.8 6.0
65 and Over 1.6 4.2
Median Age 42 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 usually required to work as a Glass Production Machine Operator. Some workers have a certificate II in manufactured mineral products.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Manufactured Mineral Products VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

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.
Type of Qualification Glass Production Machine Operators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 6.7 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 5.4 11.6
Certificate III/IV 30.5 21.1
Year 12 25.0 18.1
Year 11 9.5 4.8
Year 10 and below 21.8 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Clay, Concrete, Glass & Stone Machine Operators who are reliable, hardworking and can interact well with others.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 43%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 43%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 43%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 43%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 43%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 43%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 41%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 39%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 39%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 37%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 37%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 36%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 36%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 34%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 34%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 34%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 30%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 66%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 64%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 62%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 60%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 57%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 49%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 47%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 46%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 44%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 44%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 44%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 43%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 42%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 40%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 38%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 34%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 32%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 27%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 17%

    Fine arts

    Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

  • 15%

    Food production

    Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 55%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 55%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 54%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 54%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 52%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 52%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 50%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 50%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 45%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 45%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 43%

    Rate control

    Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 41%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 41%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 41%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 39%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 74%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 62%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 52%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 52%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 47%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 45%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 42%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 41%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 40%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 40%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 39%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 38%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 36%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 35%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 35%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 35%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 33%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 32%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 31%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 26%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, 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.

  • 95%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 71%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 62%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 43%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 29%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 76%

    Relationships

    Serve 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.

  • 76%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 62%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 52%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 40%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 38%

    Recognition

    Advancement 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.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 98%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.

  • 89%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 88%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

    Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.

  • 87%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 84%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 84%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 82%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 81%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 80%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 77%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 77%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 77%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 77%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 76%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 72%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 72%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 71%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 70%

    Pace of work set by equipment

    Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.

  • 70%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

Occupational Information Network
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, 51-9195.04 - Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers.


Links and downloads

Back to top