Therapy Aides
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Therapy Aides assist therapists in providing therapy programs and in the direct care of their patients in a variety of health, welfare and community settings.
Also known as: Therapist's Assistant.
Specialisations: Diversional Therapist's Assistant, Occupational Therapist's Assistant, Physiotherapist's Assistant.
Extensive experience or a formal qualification in a related field (like allied health assistance, disability, aged care or leisure and health) is needed to work as a Therapy Aide. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Tasks
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Assists patients with their mobility and communication needs.
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Assists with rehabilitation exercises, basic treatment and delivers medications.
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Provides direct support and assistance to therapists.
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Observes and reports changes in patients' condition, and reports complaints about care.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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Medium
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Heavy
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Very Heavy
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, Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 34% of people employed as Therapy Aides work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 32 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
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Most Therapy Aides work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
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 | Therapy Aides | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 22.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 26.6 | 25.6 |
QLD | 17.0 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 20.3 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Therapy Aides live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia 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
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The median age of Therapy Aides is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 86% of the workforce. This is 38 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)
Age Bracket | Therapy Aides | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 10.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 17.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 17.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 26.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 13.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 8.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 45 | 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
Extensive experience or a formal qualification in a related field (like allied health assistance, disability, aged care or leisure and health) is needed to work as a Therapy Aide. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
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 Health Industry and Community Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Therapy Aides | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 18.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 16.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 37.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 6.6 | 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 Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and physically fit with good people skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
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%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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50%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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50%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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45%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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45%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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41%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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39%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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39%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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37%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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36%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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64%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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64%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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50%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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48%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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45%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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45%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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42%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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41%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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40%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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39%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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33%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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33%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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32%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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31%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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31%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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30%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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29%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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28%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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24%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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21%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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61%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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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%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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50%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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48%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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46%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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46%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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45%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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45%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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43%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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41%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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37%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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37%
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.
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68%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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68%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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67%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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62%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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62%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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59%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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58%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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58%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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56%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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55%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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55%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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55%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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53%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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53%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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51%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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50%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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48%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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48%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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39%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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35%
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.
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95%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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57%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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33%
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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24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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95%
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.
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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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71%
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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67%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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67%
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%
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
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100%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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96%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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95%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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89%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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88%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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87%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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83%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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82%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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81%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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80%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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80%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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79%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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79%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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78%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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77%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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71%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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70%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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70%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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69%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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66%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
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, 31-2021.00 - Physical Therapist Assistants.
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.