Shelf Fillers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Shelf Fillers fill up shelves and display areas in stores and supermarkets.
Also known as: Night Filler.
Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Shelf Filler.
Tasks
-
placing goods neatly in bins and on racks, and stacking bulky goods on floors
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filling shelves with goods ensuring goods with the earliest use-by dates are at the front of shelves
-
noting what has been sold and collecting goods needed from the stockroom using a trolley
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maintaining shelf order by removing stock belonging to a different location
-
may help customers find goods they need
-
may price goods
Characteristics
-
Informal or on-the-job
-
Practical
-
Administrative
-
Enterprising
-
Very Heavy
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 80,500 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 | 54,700 |
2012 | 63,900 |
2013 | 71,700 |
2014 | 56,700 |
2015 | 61,000 |
2016 | 57,400 |
2017 | 67,000 |
2018 | 64,600 |
2019 | 60,800 |
2020 | 80,100 |
2021 | 74,500 |
2026 | 80,500 |
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 20% of people employed as Shelf Fillers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 46 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than 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
-
Most Shelf Fillers work in the Retail trade 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 | Shelf Fillers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 28.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
-
Around 45% of Shelf Fillers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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
-
The median age of Shelf Fillers is 25 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 15 to 19 years.
Females make up 39% of the workforce. This is 9 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 | Shelf Fillers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 23.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 23.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 19.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 13.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 11.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.3 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 25 | 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 Shelf Filler.
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 | Shelf Fillers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 7.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 6.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 11.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 39.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 10.9 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 22.5 | 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 Shelf Fillers who are reliable, hardworking and motivated.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
43%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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36%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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36%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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36%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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34%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
32%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
32%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
32%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
32%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
30%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
30%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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30%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
29%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
-
27%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
23%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
23%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
16%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
39%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
31%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
26%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
24%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
23%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
23%
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.
-
18%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
15%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
14%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
13%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
12%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
12%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
11%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
9%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
-
9%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
8%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
7%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
6%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
5%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
50%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
46%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
45%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
43%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
43%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
43%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
41%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
41%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
41%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
39%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
37%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
37%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
36%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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36%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
34%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
30%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
-
30%
StaminaExercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
-
29%
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.
-
71%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
67%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
-
62%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
53%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
52%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
52%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
45%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
44%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
-
43%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
43%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
40%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
40%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
40%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
39%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
37%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
-
36%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
36%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
35%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
32%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
30%
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.
-
86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
67%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
38%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
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.
-
52%
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.
-
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.
-
31%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
24%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
24%
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
-
97%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
96%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
92%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
92%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
92%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
91%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
90%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
87%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
82%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
80%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
79%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
78%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
77%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
77%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
-
76%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
74%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
74%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
66%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
65%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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, 43-5081.01 - Stock Clerks, Sales Floor.
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.