Agricultural Scientists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Agricultural Scientists study commercial plants, animals and cultivation techniques to enhance the productivity of farms and agricultural industries.
Specialisations: Agronomist.
A bachelor degree in agricultural science or another related field is needed to work as an Agricultural Scientist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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Studies the environmental factors affecting commercial crop production, pasture growth, animal breeding, and the growth and health of forest trees.
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Studies the effects of cultivation techniques, soils, insects and plant diseases on animal, crop and forest production.
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Develops procedures and techniques for solving agricultural or horticultural problems and improving the efficiency of production.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Medium
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, Agricultural and Forestry Scientists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 87% of people employed as Agricultural Scientists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 21 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 45 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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Agricultural Scientists work in industries like:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Wholesale trade.
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 | Agricultural Scientists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 24.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 20.1 | 25.6 |
QLD | 23.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 11.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 4.3 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.8 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 76% of Agricultural Scientists live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
South Australia and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their 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 Agricultural Scientists 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 28% of the workforce. This is 20 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 | Agricultural Scientists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 25.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.1 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.2 | 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 degree in agricultural science or another related field is needed to work as an Agricultural Scientist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Agricultural Scientists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 30.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 50.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 10.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 1.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 4.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.3 | 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 Agricultural and Forestry Scientists 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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68%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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66%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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64%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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61%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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61%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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61%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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59%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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57%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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57%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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54%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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54%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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54%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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52%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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48%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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39%
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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79%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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78%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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71%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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67%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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63%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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59%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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58%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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56%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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53%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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51%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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47%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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46%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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45%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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44%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
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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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37%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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37%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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36%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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29%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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71%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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70%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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68%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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68%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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66%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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66%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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61%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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59%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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57%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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52%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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46%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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41%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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86%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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82%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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82%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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82%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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79%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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79%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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75%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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75%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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74%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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73%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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71%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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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%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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68%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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67%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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64%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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62%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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61%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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60%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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56%
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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100%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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52%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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43%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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43%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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24%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
Values
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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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81%
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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76%
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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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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57%
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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48%
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.
Demands
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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93%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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90%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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82%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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82%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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82%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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78%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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74%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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72%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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72%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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71%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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70%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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69%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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69%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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69%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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69%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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69%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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67%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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, 19-1013.00 - Soil and Plant Scientists.
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.