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Tram Drivers

ANZSCO ID 731312

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Overview

Snapshot

Employed
1,300
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
92%
Female Share
18%
Average age
53
About this data

Summary

Tram Drivers drive trams to transport passengers on urban light rail networks.

Tasks

  • Stops at stations and set locations to pick up and set down passengers and freight.

  • Opens and closes doors before and after passengers board or disembark.

  • Observes signals, track conditions, nearby traffic and prescribed speeds to ensure safety.

  • Monitors indicator gauges, changes controls and power supply poles and reports operating irregularities.

  • Checks time and adherence to timetables.

  • May advise passengers on destinations.

Characteristics

Job Type
Machinery Operators And Drivers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
7313 Train and Tram Drivers
Unemployment Rate
n/a
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. 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, Train and Tram Drivers, under the outlook section.

Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 92% of people employed as Tram Drivers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 26 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

1
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
95.1%
2
Public Administration and Safety
2.1%
3
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
0.4%
4
Administrative and Support Services
0.4%
5
Other industries
0.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

3.6% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

87.7% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

2.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.8% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

0.3% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Tram Drivers All Jobs Average
NSW 3.6 31.6
VIC 87.7 25.6
QLD 2.6 20.0
SA 5.8 7.0
WA 0.3 10.8
TAS 0.0 2.0
NT 0.0 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
53
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
18%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Tram Drivers is 53 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 18% of the workforce. This is 30 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 Tram Drivers All Jobs Average
15-19 0.0 5.0
20-24 0.8 9.3
25-34 7.9 22.9
35-44 16.6 22.0
45-54 32.0 21.6
55-59 17.6 9.0
60-64 13.4 6.0
65 and Over 11.7 4.2
Median Age 53 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 certificate IV in rail driving is usually needed to work as a Tram Driver.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Transport and Logistics Training Package 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 Tram Drivers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 4.6 10.1
Bachelor degree 14.8 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 10.6 11.6
Certificate III/IV 19.3 21.1
Year 12 28.2 18.1
Year 11 9.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 12.9 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 Train and Tram Drivers who can interact with customers, provide good customer service and are well presented.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 57%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 55%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 48%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 43%

    Active listening

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

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Active learning

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

  • 43%

    Time management

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

  • 39%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 39%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 36%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 36%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 34%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 34%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 32%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 32%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 29%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 71%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 64%

    Transportation

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

  • 60%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 47%

    English language

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

  • 43%

    Education and training

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

  • 41%

    Mechanical

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

  • 39%

    Psychology

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

  • 37%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 35%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 34%

    Communications and media

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

  • 30%

    Law and government

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

  • 23%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 22%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 22%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 22%

    Sociology and anthropology

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

  • 21%

    Foreign language

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

  • 20%

    Administration and management

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

  • 19%

    Geography

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

  • 14%

    Philosophy and theology

    Philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.

  • 12%

    Clerical

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

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 66%

    Reaction time

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

  • 55%

    Response orientation

    Quickly choose the right movement of the hand, foot, or other body part when there are two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).

  • 54%

    Control precision

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

  • 52%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 52%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 50%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 50%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 50%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Rate control

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

  • 46%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 46%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 46%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 43%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.

  • 43%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 43%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 43%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 41%

    Near vision

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

  • 41%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 41%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 39%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

Activities

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

  • 69%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 68%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 65%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 63%

    Working with the public

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

  • 61%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 60%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 60%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 59%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 56%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 55%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 54%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 52%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 50%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 48%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 45%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 45%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 45%

    Communicating with the public

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

  • 40%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 36%

    Making sense of information and ideas

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

  • 33%

    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.

  • 76%

    Administrative

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

  • 43%

    Enterprising

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

  • 38%

    Analytical

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

  • 38%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 14%

    Creative

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

Values

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

  • 71%

    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.

  • 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.

  • 57%

    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.

  • 43%

    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.

  • 43%

    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.

  • 33%

    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:

  • 93%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

    Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).

  • 91%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 90%

    Contact with people

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

  • 89%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 88%

    Angry or unpleasant people

    Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.

  • 87%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 87%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 86%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 84%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 84%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 82%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 82%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 82%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 81%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 78%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 77%

    Repeating same tasks

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

  • 75%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 74%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 74%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 73%

    Conflict situations

    Deal with conflict or disagreements.

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, 53-4041.00 - Subway and Streetcar Operators.

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