Plasterers

ANZSCO ID 3332

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
27,200
Future Growth
-4%
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
73%
Female Share
1%
Average age
37

Summary

Plasterers apply and fix plasterboard partitions, suspended ceilings, fire rating systems, acoustic tiles, and composite wall linings to buildings, and apply decorative and protective coverings of plaster, cement and similar materials to the interiors and exteriors of structures.

Tasks

  • determining plasterboard layout, and installing insulation and vapour barriers

  • measuring, marking and cutting plasterboard, lifting and positioning panels, and securing them to walls, ceilings and battens

  • preparing corner beads and securing them in position

  • fixing pre-cast cornices, panel mouldings, ceiling centres and other plaster fittings

  • covering joins and nail holes with wet plaster and sealing compounds, and smoothing them using wet brushes and sand paper

  • mixing and applying coats of plaster, cement and render to structures using trowels, and levelling and smoothing coats to uniform thickness

  • plumbing and straightening corners, angles and wall and ceiling surfaces

  • creating decorative textures in finishing coats

  • applying and finishing acoustic, insulating and fireproofing materials bonded with plaster, plastic cement and similar materials

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Above average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy

Outlook

Employment 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 decline
  • is likely to reach 25,200 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.

Projected Change
-4%
(or -1,000 jobs)
From
26,300
in 2021
To
25,200
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 35,600
2012 25,700
2013 34,200
2014 32,700
2015 33,600
2016 32,200
2017 36,300
2018 36,800
2019 28,000
2020 29,700
2021 26,300
2026 25,200

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 78% of people employed as Plasterers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 12 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
Construction
96.6%
2
Wholesale Trade
2.1%
3
Manufacturing
0.8%
4
Education and Training
0.4%
  • Most Plasterers work in the Construction industry.

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.


Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

26.5% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

26.9% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

21.4% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

14.9% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.9% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.2% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Plasterers All Jobs Average
NSW 26.5 31.6
VIC 26.9 25.6
QLD 21.4 20.0
SA 6.6 7.0
WA 14.9 10.8
TAS 1.9 2.0
NT 0.6 1.0
ACT 1.2 1.9


  • Around 60% of Plasterers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.

    Western Australia 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

Age In Years
37
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
1%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Plasterers 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 1% of the workforce. This is 47 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 Plasterers All Jobs Average
15-19 3.8 5.0
20-24 10.9 9.3
25-34 30.1 22.9
35-44 23.7 22.0
45-54 20.1 21.6
55-59 6.4 9.0
60-64 3.6 6.0
65 and Over 1.5 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

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Plasterer. Although some workers have a certificate III in wall and ceiling lining or solid plastering.

Registration or licencing may be required.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Construction, Plumbing and Services 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 Plasterers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.5 10.1
Bachelor degree 2.1 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 3.3 11.6
Certificate III/IV 50.1 21.1
Year 12 17.0 18.1
Year 11 6.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 21.0 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 Plasterers who are reliable, work well in a team and are hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 45%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 39%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 37%

    Monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Time management

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

  • 36%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 36%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 34%

    Active listening

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

  • 34%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 32%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 32%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 32%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 32%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 30%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 30%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 29%

    Active learning

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

  • 29%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 27%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 27%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 27%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 76%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 47%

    Mechanical

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

  • 45%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 43%

    Technical design

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

  • 42%

    Administration and management

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

  • 42%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 41%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 41%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 37%

    English language

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

  • 34%

    Production and processing

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

  • 31%

    Transportation

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

  • 31%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 30%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 29%

    Education and training

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

  • 29%

    Clerical

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

  • 25%

    Psychology

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

  • 24%

    Physics

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

  • 20%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 20%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 18%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Extent flexibility

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

  • 50%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 46%

    Balance

    Keep your balance or stay upright.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Near vision

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

  • 46%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 45%

    Stamina

    Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.

  • 43%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 43%

    Control precision

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

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

    Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.

  • 43%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 41%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 41%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 37%

    Perceptual speed

    Use 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.

  • 75%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 64%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 50%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 50%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 48%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 45%

    Drafting, laying out, and specifying parts

    Detailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

  • 44%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 44%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 43%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 39%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 38%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 38%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 37%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 36%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 35%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 35%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 33%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 32%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

    Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

  • 31%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 31%

    Looking for changes over time

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


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%

    Practical

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

  • 76%

    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.

  • 29%

    Creative

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

  • 29%

    Enterprising

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

  • 19%

    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.
  • 62%

    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%

    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.

  • 55%

    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.

  • 52%

    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%

    Achievement

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

  • 33%

    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%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 95%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 91%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 89%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 82%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 82%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 81%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 81%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 80%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 79%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 79%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 78%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 75%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 74%

    Contact with people

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

  • 74%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 73%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 72%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 69%

    Repeating same tasks

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

  • 69%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

  • 69%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

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, 47-2081.00 - Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers.


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