Mail Sorters
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Mail Sorters receive, sort and despatch mail in organisations and postal sorting centres.
Tasks
-
receiving and checking incoming mail and mail bags
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assisting with the verification of registered and special articles
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operating mail processing equipment such as letter preparation lines, letter indexing and sorting equipment
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performing manual sorting duties and preparing documentation for despatching mail
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processing underpaid mail, bulk mail lodgements, express mail and other mail services
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operating letter indexing and sorting machines, multi-line optical character machines and bar-coding equipment
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investigating complaints regarding lost items
Characteristics
-
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
-
Administrative
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Light
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow strongly
- is likely to reach 21,100 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 12,900 |
2012 | 16,900 |
2013 | 13,500 |
2014 | 16,600 |
2015 | 12,800 |
2016 | 12,400 |
2017 | 7,900 |
2018 | 12,000 |
2019 | 9,400 |
2020 | 10,900 |
2021 | 19,500 |
2026 | 21,100 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
-
Around 63% of people employed as Mail Sorters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $1,074 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $984
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,351
Median hourly earnings are $29, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Mail Sorters | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,074 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
-
Most Mail Sorters work in the Transport, postal and warehousing industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Mail Sorters | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 33.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 27.7 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.4 | 1.9 |
-
Around 73% of Mail Sorters live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
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
-
The median age of Mail Sorters is 50 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 50% of the workforce. This is similar to 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 | Mail Sorters | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 11.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 17.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 29.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 16.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 11.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 6.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 50 | 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 Mail Sorter. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in areas such as warehousing, distribution or business.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Transport and Logistics Training Package VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Mail Sorters | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 3.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 12.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 8.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 12.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 32.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 8.4 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 22.7 | 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 Mail Sorters who are efficient, reliable and have a good work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
39%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
39%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
39%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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37%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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37%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
37%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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36%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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34%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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34%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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34%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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30%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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30%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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29%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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29%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
27%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
27%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
27%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
-
27%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
23%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
33%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
29%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
25%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
25%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
24%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
21%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
20%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
19%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
19%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
15%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
15%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
14%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
13%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
12%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
11%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
10%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
-
10%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
9%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
9%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
7%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
48%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
46%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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46%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
43%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
43%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
43%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
43%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
41%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
39%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
39%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
39%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
37%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
37%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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37%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
36%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
-
36%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
36%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
73%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
54%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
47%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
45%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
44%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
39%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
-
38%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
37%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
35%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
35%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
35%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
32%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
32%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
30%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
30%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
28%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
28%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
26%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
26%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
23%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or 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.
-
100%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
67%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
33%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
67%
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.
-
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.
-
40%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
33%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
33%
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.
-
29%
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.
Demands
-
100%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
94%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
91%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
90%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
88%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
86%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
85%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
82%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
81%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
81%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
79%
Pace of work set by equipmentPace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
76%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
75%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
-
75%
Automation of tasksDo tasks that are mostly automated.
-
73%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
-
73%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
72%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
70%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
69%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
67%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact 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, 43-5053.00 - Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators.
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
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.