ICT Security Specialists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
ICT Security Specialists establish, manage and administer organisation's ICT security policies and procedures to ensure preventive and recovery strategies are in place, and to minimise the risk of internal and external security threats.
Specialisations: Information Technology Security Manager.
A bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as network security, computer science or cyber security) is usually needed to work as an ICT Security Specialist. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.
Tasks
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Accepts responsibility for the processes, procedures and operational management associated with system security and disaster recovery planning.
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Liaises with security vendors, suppliers, service providers and external resources.
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Analyses, recommends, installs and maintains software security applications and monitors contractual obligations, performance delivery and service level agreements.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Sedentary
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Light
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 92% of people employed as ICT Security Specialists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 26 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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ICT Security Specialists work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Financial and insurance services
- Information media and telecommunications.
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 | ICT Security Specialists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 35.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 30.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 11.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 5.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 11.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 86% of ICT Security Specialists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
The Australian Capital Territory, 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:
- Australian Capital Territory
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Melbourne - South East
- Melbourne - West.
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 ICT Security Specialists 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 14% of the workforce. This is 34 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 | ICT Security Specialists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 3.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 27.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 36.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.6 | 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
A bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as network security, computer science or cyber security) is usually needed to work as an ICT Security Specialist. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.
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 Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | ICT Security Specialists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 23.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 40.3 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 12.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 11.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 2.5 | 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 Database & Systems Administrators & ICT Security who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong computer literacy.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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54%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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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%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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52%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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50%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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45%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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45%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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39%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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91%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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70%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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69%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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62%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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55%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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54%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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51%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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50%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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48%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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47%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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46%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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46%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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45%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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37%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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28%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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27%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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27%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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26%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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25%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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63%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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48%
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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45%
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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45%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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41%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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39%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
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36%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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34%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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85%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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77%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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75%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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75%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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73%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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73%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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70%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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68%
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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68%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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67%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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67%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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65%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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65%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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64%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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60%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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60%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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58%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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47%
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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90%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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76%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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67%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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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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33%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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81%
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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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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76%
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%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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62%
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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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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98%
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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94%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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92%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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87%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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84%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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82%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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82%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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81%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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79%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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74%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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73%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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72%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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63%
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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59%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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58%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 15-1122.00 - Information Security Analysts.
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.