Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers

ANZSCO ID 3942

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,800
Future Growth
-11%
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
66%
Female Share
18%
Average age
47

Summary

Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers set up and operate woodworking machines and wood turning lathes to shape wood stock, finish and polish furniture, and make picture frames and frame paintings, photographs and other artwork.

Tasks

  • studying drawings, work orders and sample parts to determine specifications

  • determining tooling and machine requirements and sequence of operations

  • setting up woodworking machines and wood stock for correct cutting, planning, turning, shaping and sanding

  • operating machines to cut, plane, turn, shape and sand work pieces

  • removing old finishes by stripping with steel wool and glasspaper, and by applying solvents and paint strippers, and removing softened finishes by scraping

  • applying varnish, shellac, lacquer, stains and paint to surfaces and polishing and waxing finished surfaces

  • fitting and fastening frame pieces

  • mounting backing materials and subjects for framing

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
Physical Demand
  • Light
  • Medium
  • Heavy
  • Very Heavy

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 3,200 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
-11%
(or -400 jobs)
From
3,600
in 2021
To
3,200
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 4,100
2012 4,700
2013 4,400
2014 6,500
2015 5,100
2016 4,000
2017 7,000
2018 3,200
2019 3,800
2020 4,600
2021 3,600
2026 3,200

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 74% of people employed as Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 8 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).

    More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

    Median hourly earnings are $28, 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. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.


Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
53.1%
2
Retail Trade
20.4%
3
Wholesale Trade
12.2%
4
Construction
10.2%
5
Other industries
4.1%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

29.9% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

26.7% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.5% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

9.7% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

3.7% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.7% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 29.9 31.6
VIC 26.7 25.6
QLD 18.5 20.0
SA 9.7 7.0
WA 9.7 10.8
TAS 3.7 2.0
NT 0.7 1.0
ACT 1.1 1.9


  • Around 60% of Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.

    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
47
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
18%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers is 47 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 Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 2.5 5.0
20-24 6.9 9.3
25-34 15.4 22.9
35-44 19.3 22.0
45-54 24.8 21.6
55-59 11.9 9.0
60-64 10.5 6.0
65 and Over 8.6 4.2
Median Age 47 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 essential to work as a Wood Machinist or Wood Trades Worker. Although some workers have a certificate III in a furnishing or timber field.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Forest and Wood Products Industry and Furnishing Industry 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 Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 2.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 8.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 6.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 43.1 21.1
Year 12 17.5 18.1
Year 11 6.1 4.8
Year 10 and below 15.8 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 Wood Machinists and Other Wood Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 41%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Time management

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

  • 39%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 39%

    Active listening

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

  • 39%

    Active learning

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

  • 39%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 37%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 37%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 37%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 37%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 36%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 36%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 34%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 32%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 32%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 30%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 27%

    Mechanical

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

  • 24%

    Education and training

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

  • 24%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 22%

    Chemistry

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

  • 22%

    Building and construction

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

  • 19%

    Production and processing

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

  • 19%

    English language

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

  • 14%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 13%

    History and archeology

    Events of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.

  • 12%

    Administration and management

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

  • 11%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 9%

    Technical design

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

  • 6%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 6%

    Transportation

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

  • 5%

    Foreign language

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

  • 5%

    Philosophy and theology

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

  • 5%

    Psychology

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

  • 4%

    Physics

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

  • 2%

    Communications and media

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

  • 2%

    Law and government

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 54%

    Visualization

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

  • 52%

    Near vision

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

  • 52%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 50%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 46%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 46%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 46%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 45%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 45%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 45%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Control precision

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

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 36%

    Dynamic strength

    Exercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • 36%

    Stamina

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


Activities

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

  • 85%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 70%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 65%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 61%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 60%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 55%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 52%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 52%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 50%

    Managing payments and orders

    Monitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.

  • 49%

    Working with the public

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

  • 48%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 47%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 46%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 45%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 43%

    Coordinating the work of a team

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

  • 43%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 41%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 40%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 38%

    Guiding and directing staff

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

  • 36%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve 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%

    Practical

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

  • 38%

    Creative

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

  • 29%

    Administrative

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

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 14%

    Analytical

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

  • 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.
  • 57%

    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%

    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.

  • 36%

    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:
  • 98%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 97%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 95%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 94%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 93%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 90%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 88%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 88%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 83%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 83%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 81%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 78%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 78%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 78%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 74%

    Bright or inadequate lighting

    Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.

  • 74%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 73%

    Contact with people

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

  • 72%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 72%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 72%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

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, 51-7021.00 - Furniture Finishers.


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