Telecommunications Engineers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Telecommunication Engineers design and develop telecommunications systems, devices and products.
Tasks
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Designs, builds, configures and commissions devices, networks and systems and ensures systems interconnect with equipment from different manufacturers, service providers and users.
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Compiles proposals to define goals, identifies scope, background and need, and ascertains cost of the proposal.
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Evaluates and procures new products and services.
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Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures in the provision of systems.
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Selects and develops new sites by locating sites, filing, drawing up, and drafting drawings, and following through to approval.
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Determines appropriate configurations of hardware and software, ensuring desired performance of equipment.
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Prepares and interprets specifications, drawings and regulations for the use of equipment.
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Determines the type and arrangement of circuits, transformers, circuit-breakers, transmission lines and equipment.
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Identifies and analyses problems and needs of existing systems, to determine the most appropriate means of reducing, eliminating and avoiding current and future problems and improve communications.
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Monitors systems to assess need for updates, upgrades, enhancements, preventive maintenance and new systems.
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Assesses performance levels of system hardware and software to project future needs, and develops short and long-terms plans for updating equipment, adding capabilities, enhancing existing systems and providing improved telecommunications.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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, Telecommunications Engineering Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 95% of people employed as Telecommunications Engineers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 29 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
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Telecommunications Engineers work in industries like:
- Information media and telecommunications
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Wholesale trade
- Public administration and safety.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Telecommunications Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 39.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 30.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 12.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 8.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 3.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 88% of Telecommunications Engineers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Melbourne - South East
- Sydney - Parramatta
- Sydney - Ryde
- Melbourne - Inner.
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
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The median age of Telecommunications Engineers is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 9% of the workforce. This is 39 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 | Telecommunications Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 28.0 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 31.3 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 23.3 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 4.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 40 | 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
A bachelor or postgraduate degree in engineering with a major in telecommunications is usually needed to work as a Telecommunications Engineer. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Telecommunications Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 25.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 43.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 10.7 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 5.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.7 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.1 | 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 Telecommunications Engineering Professionals who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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54%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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50%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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50%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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50%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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48%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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48%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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46%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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46%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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45%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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36%
Equipment maintenanceMaintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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86%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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73%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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70%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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65%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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61%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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61%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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61%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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58%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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56%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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53%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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46%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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44%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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43%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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42%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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41%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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41%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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38%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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37%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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37%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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35%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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59%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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52%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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52%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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50%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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50%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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48%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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46%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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45%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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45%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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43%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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84%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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77%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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72%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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71%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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71%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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70%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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68%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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68%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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67%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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66%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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66%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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65%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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63%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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61%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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59%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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58%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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57%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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52%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking 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.
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86%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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76%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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71%
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.
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67%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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57%
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.
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52%
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.
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48%
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.
Demands
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98%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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88%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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86%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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85%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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82%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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81%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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81%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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80%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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78%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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77%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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77%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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73%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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72%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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69%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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67%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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65%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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63%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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63%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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, 15-1143.01 - Telecommunications Engineering Specialists.
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
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.