Signwriters

ANZSCO ID 3996

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
6,900
Future Growth
0.9%
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
75%
Female Share
12%
Average age
41

Summary

Signwriters design, fabricate and paint signs for displays, buildings, hoardings, boats and structures.

Specialisations: Sign Manufacturer.

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Signwriter. Although some workers have a certificate III in signs and graphics or another related course.

Tasks

  • conferring with clients and responding to proposals, sketches and written instructions to determine composition of signs

  • designing and creating signs and graphics using computer software and signmaking machines

  • designing and creating signs by measuring and calculating letter size, preparing the surface, applying background paint using brushes, sprays and rollers, and creating the letters using brushes, stencils, enamel paint and decals

  • designing and creating wall murals, screen prints, gold leaf work and custom vehicle art

  • painting signs and lettering using lacquers, varnishes, paints and other materials

  • painting signs on brick, metal, timber, glass, plastic and other surfaces

  • making and erecting three dimensional signs

  • preparing cost estimates for labour and materials

  • may erect and work on scaffolding

  • may install signs on-site

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
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. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers in this occupation is likely to remain stable.

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
0.9%
(or 100 jobs)
From
5,600
in 2021
To
5,600
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 5,700
2012 5,500
2013 7,500
2014 7,600
2015 5,100
2016 4,900
2017 4,800
2018 11,500
2019 3,900
2020 4,600
2021 5,600
2026 5,600

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 82% of people employed as Signwriters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 16 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.

    Median hourly earnings are $30, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.


Industries

Main industries

1
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
63.9%
2
Manufacturing
24.6%
3
Other Services
4.9%
4
Wholesale Trade
3.3%
5
Other industries
3.3%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.7% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

27.2% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.1% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

10.4% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.2% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.8% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.9% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Signwriters All Jobs Average
NSW 28.7 31.6
VIC 27.2 25.6
QLD 23.1 20.0
SA 6.6 7.0
WA 10.4 10.8
TAS 2.2 2.0
NT 0.8 1.0
ACT 0.9 1.9


  • Around 45% of Signwriters live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Queensland has a large share of employment relative to its 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
41
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
12%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Signwriters is 41 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.

    Females make up 12% of the workforce. This is 36 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 Signwriters All Jobs Average
15-19 3.8 5.0
20-24 9.9 9.3
25-34 21.8 22.9
35-44 22.8 22.0
45-54 21.3 21.6
55-59 9.5 9.0
60-64 6.3 6.0
65 and Over 4.5 4.2
Median Age 41 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 Signwriter. Although some workers have a certificate III in signs and graphics or another related course.

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 Signwriters All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.7 10.1
Bachelor degree 4.0 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 6.6 11.6
Certificate III/IV 54.1 21.1
Year 12 16.8 18.1
Year 11 5.5 4.8
Year 10 and below 12.3 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 Signwriters who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 55%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 50%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 50%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 46%

    Monitoring

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

  • 46%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 43%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 41%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 39%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 39%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 39%

    Time management

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

  • 39%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 36%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 34%

    Active listening

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

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 34%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 32%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 32%

    Active learning

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 46%

    Production and processing

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

  • 43%

    Mechanical

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

  • 37%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 34%

    English language

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

  • 33%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 32%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 32%

    Chemistry

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

  • 31%

    Education and training

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

  • 30%

    Administration and management

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

  • 28%

    Physics

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

  • 21%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 19%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 15%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 14%

    Clerical

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

  • 14%

    Foreign language

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

  • 14%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 14%

    Technical design

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

  • 14%

    Transportation

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

  • 12%

    Communications and media

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

  • 9%

    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..

  • 59%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 50%

    Control precision

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

  • 50%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 50%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 50%

    Reaction time

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

  • 48%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 48%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 48%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 48%

    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%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 46%

    Rate control

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

  • 46%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 46%

    Visualization

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

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 43%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 43%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 43%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 41%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

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


Activities

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

  • 79%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 77%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 66%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 64%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 58%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 56%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 55%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 55%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 54%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 54%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 53%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 53%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 51%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 48%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 48%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 47%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 45%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 45%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 44%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 37%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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


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.

  • 67%

    Administrative

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

  • 52%

    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.

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 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.

  • 43%

    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.

  • 33%

    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.

  • 31%

    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.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 96%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 92%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 90%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 87%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 84%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 84%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 82%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 81%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 80%

    Pace of work set by equipment

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

  • 80%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 75%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 75%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 72%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 71%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 71%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 70%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 69%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 68%

    Repeating same tasks

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

  • 67%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 66%

    Unstructured work

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

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, 51-9121.00 - Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.


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