Orthoptists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Orthoptists diagnose and manage eye movement disorders and associated sensory deficiencies.
Tasks
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Diagnoses eye movement disorders and defects of binocular function.
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Prescribes lenses, contact lenses and low vision aids, and checks suitability and comfort.
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Prescribes exercises to co-ordinate movement and focusing of eyes.
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Manages programmes for eye movement disorders, as well as instructing and counselling patients in the use of corrective techniques and eye exercises.
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Advises on visual health matters such as contact lens care, vision care for the elderly, optics, visual ergonomics, and occupational and industrial eye safety.
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Conducts rehabilitation programs for the visually impaired.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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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, Optometrists and Orthoptists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 49% of people employed as Orthoptists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 17 percentage points below 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).
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 Orthoptists work in the Health care and social assistance 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 | Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 46.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 39.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 7.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 1.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 3.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 83% of Orthoptists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria 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 Orthoptists is 35 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 89% of the workforce. This is 41 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 | Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 42.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.5 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 17.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 35 | 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 vision science or orthoptics is needed to work as an Orthoptist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration or licencing may be required.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 30.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 56.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 12.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 0.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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 Optometrists and Orthoptists who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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66%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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55%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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55%
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%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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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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52%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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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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43%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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41%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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67%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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66%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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65%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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62%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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53%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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52%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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49%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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49%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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48%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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46%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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33%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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32%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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32%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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31%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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31%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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30%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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29%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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29%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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26%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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24%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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70%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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66%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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66%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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66%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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63%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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61%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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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%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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52%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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48%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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76%
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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73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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73%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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72%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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71%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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68%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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66%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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64%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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63%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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63%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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62%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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61%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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59%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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55%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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54%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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51%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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48%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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42%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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41%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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76%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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62%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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38%
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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24%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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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%
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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79%
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%
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.
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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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62%
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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57%
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
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100%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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100%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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98%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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94%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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93%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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92%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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89%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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87%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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87%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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84%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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83%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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83%
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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80%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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75%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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74%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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74%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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69%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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68%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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66%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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, 29-1199.05 - Orthoptists.
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.