Orthotists and Prosthetists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Orthotists or Prosthetists design, build, fit and repair splints, braces, callipers, artificial limbs and related appliances to restore function or compensate for muscular and skeletal disabilities.
Tasks
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Examines the patient and takes the necessary measurements to create an artificial limb, brace, splint or other related appliance.
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Reads prescriptions for limbs and other related devices.
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Makes a plaster cast of the limb or abnormality.
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Designs limbs or related appliances.
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Makes the device or limb and supervises its construction or selects a commercially-made product and adjusts it to fit the patient.
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Fits the device or limb to the patient.
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Instructs the patient on the use and care of the device or limb.
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Carries out repairs and follow-ups with the patient to evaluate the effectiveness of an artificial limb or device.
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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Medium
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, Other Health Diagnostic & Promotion Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 76% of people employed as Orthotists and Prosthetists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 10 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
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 Orthotists and Prosthetists work in the Health care and social assistance 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 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 21.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 40.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 7.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 72% of Orthotists and Prosthetists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
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 Orthotists and Prosthetists is 37 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 43% of the workforce. This is 5 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 | Orthotists and Prosthetists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 34.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 23.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 12.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 37 | 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 university degree in applied science or health science majoring in prosthetics or orthotics is needed to work as an Orthotist or Prosthetist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Orthotists and Prosthetists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 27.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 53.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 9.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 3.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 2.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 2.6 | 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 Other Health Diagnostic & Promotion Professionals 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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63%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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59%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
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%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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52%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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52%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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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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50%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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50%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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46%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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37%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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75%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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65%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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63%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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62%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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62%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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60%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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59%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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58%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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55%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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55%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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53%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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53%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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52%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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52%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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51%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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51%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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48%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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42%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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41%
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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66%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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66%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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63%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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61%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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59%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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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%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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57%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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50%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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48%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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45%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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41%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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77%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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73%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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71%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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70%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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70%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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70%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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69%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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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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65%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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65%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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64%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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61%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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61%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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59%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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58%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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58%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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58%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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57%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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46%
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%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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71%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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67%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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33%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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29%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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29%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Values
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86%
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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86%
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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81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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%
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.
Demands
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100%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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96%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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95%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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95%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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92%
Dangerous equipmentWork near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
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92%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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91%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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91%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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90%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
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90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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90%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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89%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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89%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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88%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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88%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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84%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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83%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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83%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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82%
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, 29-2091.00 - Orthotists and Prosthetists.
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.