Paper Products Machine Operators

ANZSCO ID 711311

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
1,600
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
89%
Female Share
11%
Average age
46

Summary

Paper Products Machine Operators operate machines to manufacture paper packaging and other products from paper and fibreboard stock.

Specialisations: Carton Making Machinist, Embosser, Paper Bag Making Machinist.

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Paper Products Machine Operator. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in printing or papermaking operations.

Tasks

  • Sets up printing plates, ink circulation systems, knives, creases, cutting dies, and folding and gluing machines.

  • Loads machines with paper and fibreboard.

  • Operates machines to form cardboard containers, paper plates, egg cartons, tissue paper and other paper products.

  • Adjusts and cleans machines and performs minor repairs.

Characteristics

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

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 89% of people employed as Paper Products Machine Operators work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
81.7%
2
Administrative and Support Services
2.8%
3
Wholesale Trade
2.6%
4
Retail Trade
0.9%
5
Other industries
3.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

24.8% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

42.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

15.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

12.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

4.8% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.1% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Paper Products Machine Operators All Jobs Average
NSW 24.8 31.6
VIC 42.1 25.6
QLD 15.0 20.0
SA 12.1 7.0
WA 4.8 10.8
TAS 1.1 2.0
NT 0.0 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 71% of Paper Products Machine Operators live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    Victoria and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
46
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
11%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Paper Products Machine Operators is 46 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 11% of the workforce. This is 37 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Paper Products Machine Operators All Jobs Average
15-19 1.2 5.0
20-24 4.5 9.3
25-34 18.0 22.9
35-44 21.4 22.0
45-54 31.6 21.6
55-59 12.7 9.0
60-64 7.8 6.0
65 and Over 2.9 4.2
Median Age 46 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 Paper Products Machine Operator. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in printing or papermaking operations.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Pulp & Paper Manufacturing Industry and Forest and Wood Products Industry VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Paper Products Machine Operators All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.9 10.1
Bachelor degree 5.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 6.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 23.7 21.1
Year 12 26.4 18.1
Year 11 8.7 4.8
Year 10 and below 28.3 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 Paper and Wood Processing Machine Operators who are hardworking, have good people skills and are reliable.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 48%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 45%

    Monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 39%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 39%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 36%

    Active listening

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

  • 36%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 36%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 36%

    Time management

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

  • 36%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 36%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 34%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 32%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 32%

    Active learning

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

  • 30%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 30%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 56%

    Production and processing

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

  • 56%

    Mechanical

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

  • 43%

    Education and training

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

  • 41%

    English language

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

  • 40%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 37%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 34%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 34%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 30%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 28%

    Administration and management

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

  • 22%

    Technical design

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

  • 21%

    Clerical

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

  • 18%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 17%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 16%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 15%

    Chemistry

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

  • 14%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 14%

    Physics

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

  • 11%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 10%

    Sales and marketing

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 48%

    Control precision

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

  • 48%

    Near vision

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

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 43%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 41%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 41%

    Reaction time

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

  • 39%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 39%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 39%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 38%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 38%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 38%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 34%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 32%

    Rate control

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


Activities

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

  • 84%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 75%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 67%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 58%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 56%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 56%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 55%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 54%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 54%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 53%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 52%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 51%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 51%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 50%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 47%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 46%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 44%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 42%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 41%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 39%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking 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.

  • 95%

    Practical

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

  • 67%

    Administrative

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

  • 43%

    Analytical

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

  • 33%

    Enterprising

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

  • 14%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 71%

    Support

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

  • 57%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 38%

    Independence

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

  • 36%

    Working conditions

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

  • 29%

    Achievement

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

  • 29%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 97%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 97%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 96%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 90%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 89%

    Pace of work set by equipment

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

  • 88%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 87%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 84%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 81%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 81%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 78%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 78%

    Cramped work space

    Work in an awkward position or in cramped work spaces.

  • 73%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 73%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 72%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 70%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 70%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 69%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 68%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 67%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-9196.00 - Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.


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