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Telemarketers

ANZSCO ID 6393

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Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,700
Future Growth
-26.8%
Weekly Earnings
$1,216
Full-Time Share
52%
Female Share
59%
Average age
35
About this data

Summary

Telemarketers telephone existing and prospective customers to promote goods and services, and obtain sales and arrange sales visits.

Tasks

  • working from scripts and lists of contacts to promote goods and services by telephone

  • creating interest in goods and services, and seeking a sale or agreement to see sales representatives

  • arranging processing and despatch of goods and services, information kits and brochures to customers

  • arranging appointments for sales representatives

  • recording notes for follow-up action and updating marketing databases to reflect changes to the status of each customer

  • reporting competitor activities and issues raised by contacts for attention by managers

  • maintaining statistics of calls made and successes achieved

  • submitting periodic reports on telemarketing activities and results

  • may work in a call centre

Characteristics

Job Type
Sales Workers
Skill Level
Entry level
ANZSCO Occupation group
6393 Telemarketers This occupation is Current selected
Unemployment Rate
Above average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Administrative
  • Enterprising
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary

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 2,000 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
-26.8%
(or -700 jobs)
From
2,700
in 2021
To
2,000
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 12,700
2012 10,400
2013 10,900
2014 8,900
2015 11,500
2016 4,600
2017 10,200
2018 7,300
2019 6,400
2020 6,800
2021 2,700
2026 2,000

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 49% of people employed as Telemarketers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 17 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).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,216 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,011
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,269

    Median hourly earnings are $32, 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.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Telemarketers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,216 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Industries

Main industries

1
Administrative and Support Services
23.8%
2
Retail Trade
14.3%
3
Financial and Insurance Services
11.9%
4
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
9.5%
5
Other industries
40.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.4% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

29.3% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

5.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.2% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.2% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Telemarketers All Jobs Average
NSW 28.0 31.6
VIC 28.4 25.6
QLD 29.3 20.0
SA 7.1 7.0
WA 5.7 10.8
TAS 1.0 2.0
NT 0.2 1.0
ACT 0.2 1.9


  • Around 67% of Telemarketers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    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
35
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
59%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Telemarketers is 35 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 59% of the workforce. This is 11 percentage points above 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 Telemarketers All Jobs Average
15-19 5.5 5.0
20-24 20.0 9.3
25-34 23.6 22.9
35-44 14.8 22.0
45-54 16.6 21.6
55-59 7.8 9.0
60-64 6.7 6.0
65 and Over 5.1 4.2
Median Age 35 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 Telemarketer. Some workers have a certificate I or II in customer engagement.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.

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 Telemarketers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 4.4 10.1
Bachelor degree 13.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 10.9 11.6
Certificate III/IV 15.5 21.1
Year 12 34.6 18.1
Year 11 6.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 14.1 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 Telemarketers who can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people, are reliable and provide good customer service.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 52%

    Active listening

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

  • 52%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 50%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 48%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 46%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 46%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 39%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 37%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 37%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 37%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 34%

    Monitoring

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

  • 32%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 30%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 27%

    Time management

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

  • 21%

    Active learning

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

  • 20%

    Operations analysis

    Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.

  • 14%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 9%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 9%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 7%

    Learning strategies

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

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 62%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 52%

    English language

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

  • 43%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 40%

    Communications and media

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

  • 36%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 27%

    Clerical

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

  • 26%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 23%

    Education and training

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

  • 17%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 16%

    Psychology

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

  • 14%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 14%

    Production and processing

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

  • 13%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 11%

    Transportation

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

  • 11%

    Law and government

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

  • 10%

    Administration and management

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

  • 10%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 9%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 6%

    Foreign language

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

  • 5%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 54%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 50%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 46%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 45%

    Near vision

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

  • 45%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 43%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 39%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 38%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 38%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 38%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 36%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 34%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 29%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 25%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 23%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 21%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 20%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 16%

    Memorization

    Remember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

  • 13%

    Working with numbers

    Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.

Activities

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

  • 60%

    Influencing people

    Convincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.

  • 55%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 49%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 44%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 42%

    Negotiating and resolving conflicts

    Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.

  • 38%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 37%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 36%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 35%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 34%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 34%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 34%

    Documenting or recording information

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

  • 32%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 28%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 28%

    Providing office support

    Doing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.

  • 27%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 27%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 27%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 27%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 24%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

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%

    Enterprising

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

  • 81%

    Administrative

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

  • 48%

    Practical

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

  • 33%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 19%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    Analytical

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

Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.

  • 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.

  • 52%

    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.

  • 48%

    Achievement

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

  • 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%

    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.

  • 26%

    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:

  • 100%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 100%

    Contact with people

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

  • 98%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 96%

    Angry or unpleasant people

    Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.

  • 84%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 82%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 81%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 76%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 75%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 75%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 73%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 72%

    Repeating same tasks

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

  • 70%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 69%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 69%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 68%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 66%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 66%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 65%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 63%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

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, 41-9041.00 - Telemarketers.

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