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Steel Fixers

ANZSCO ID 821713

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Overview

Snapshot

Employed
3,900
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
80%
Female Share
1%
Average age
34
About this data

Summary

Steel Fixers position and secure steel bars and steel mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures.

Tasks

  • Measures, cuts, bends and fits welded wire mesh into concrete areas to be mesh-reinforced.

  • Fixes mesh and reinforced steel into position in formwork for concrete pours.

  • Set up winches and rig equipment to raise and position girders, plates, columns and other steel units.

Characteristics

Job Type
Labourers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
8217 Structural Steel Construction Workers
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Heavy

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, Structural Steel Construction Workers, under the outlook section.

Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 80% of people employed as Steel Fixers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 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

1
Construction
88.1%
2
Manufacturing
3.0%
3
Administrative and Support Services
1.0%
4
Wholesale Trade
0.5%
5
Other industries
1.9%

  • Most Steel Fixers work in the Construction industry.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

37.5% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

19.6% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

24.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.8% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.1% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.6% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.3% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.4% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Steel Fixers All Jobs Average
NSW 37.5 31.6
VIC 19.6 25.6
QLD 24.6 20.0
SA 5.8 7.0
WA 9.1 10.8
TAS 0.6 2.0
NT 1.3 1.0
ACT 1.4 1.9


  • Around 64% of Steel Fixers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    New South Wales and Queensland 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
34
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
1%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Steel Fixers is 34 years. This is younger than 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 Steel Fixers All Jobs Average
15-19 2.8 5.0
20-24 13.2 9.3
25-34 34.3 22.9
35-44 24.0 22.0
45-54 16.6 21.6
55-59 5.4 9.0
60-64 2.6 6.0
65 and Over 1.0 4.2
Median Age 34 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 Steel Fixer. Some workers have a certificate II or III in steelfixing.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Metal and Engineering 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 Steel Fixers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.2 10.1
Bachelor degree 3.2 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 3.1 11.6
Certificate III/IV 25.0 21.1
Year 12 23.3 18.1
Year 11 10.4 4.8
Year 10 and below 34.7 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 Structural Steel Construction Workers who are motivated and hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 46%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 41%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 36%

    Time management

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

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 34%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 34%

    Active listening

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

  • 34%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 32%

    Monitoring

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

  • 32%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 30%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 30%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 30%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 29%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 29%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 29%

    Systems analysis

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

  • 27%

    Active learning

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

  • 27%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 25%

    Equipment selection

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

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 85%

    Building and construction

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

  • 58%

    Technical design

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

  • 56%

    Administration and management

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

  • 52%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 52%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 41%

    English language

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

  • 37%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 36%

    Mechanical

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

  • 35%

    Education and training

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

  • 35%

    Psychology

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

  • 33%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 33%

    Transportation

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

  • 31%

    Chemistry

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

  • 30%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 28%

    Production and processing

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

  • 24%

    Physics

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

  • 19%

    Law and government

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

  • 17%

    Clerical

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

  • 14%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 12%

    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..

  • 57%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 54%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 52%

    Extent flexibility

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

  • 48%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 48%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Control precision

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

  • 46%

    Stamina

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

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Near vision

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

  • 45%

    Reaction time

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

  • 45%

    Visualization

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

  • 43%

    Dynamic strength

    Exercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • 43%

    Whole body coordination

    Move your arms, legs, and body together.

  • 41%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 39%

    Balance

    Keep your balance or stay upright.

  • 39%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 39%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 39%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 37%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

Activities

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

  • 86%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 76%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 57%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 55%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 53%

    Guiding and directing staff

    Guiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.

  • 52%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 51%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 50%

    Coordinating the work of a team

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

  • 49%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 48%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 46%

    Leading and encouraging a team

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

  • 46%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 45%

    Coaching and developing others

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

  • 45%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 45%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 43%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 42%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 39%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 38%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 37%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

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.

  • 48%

    Analytical

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

  • 24%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    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.

  • 62%

    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.

  • 45%

    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.

  • 33%

    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%

    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.

  • 29%

    Achievement

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

Demands

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

  • 92%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 92%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 91%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 90%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 89%

    Contact with people

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

  • 89%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 88%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 86%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 84%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 84%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 84%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 84%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 84%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 82%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 81%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 81%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 79%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 78%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 77%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 77%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

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, 47-2171.00 - Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers.

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