Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews

ANZSCO ID 721911

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
5,800
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
63%
Female Share
13%
Average age
38

Summary

Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews load and unload baggage, direct planes, position staircases, fill aircraft fuel tanks and perform other aircraft ground services to ensure aircraft operations run efficiently.

Specialisations: Ramp Agent.

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as an Aircraft Baggage Handler and Airline Ground Crew. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in aviation (ground operations and services).

Tasks

  • Sorts baggage.

  • Drives baggage and freight to aircraft on forklifts and transport trolleys.

  • Helps position loading ramps and staircases.

  • Loads items into aircraft as per instructions, including livestock.

  • Fills aircraft fuel tanks.

  • Unloads aircrafts of freight and baggage.

  • Directs planes to parking positions.

  • Directs passengers.

  • Cleans aircraft.

Characteristics

Job Type
Machinery Operators And Drivers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Enterprising
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy
  • Very Heavy

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, Other Mobile Plant Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 63% of people employed as Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 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
89.7%
2
Public Administration and Safety
2.8%
3
Administrative and Support Services
2.4%
4
Manufacturing
1.6%
5
Other industries
2.8%
  • Most Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews work in the Transport, postal and warehousing industry.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.


Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

32.9% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

20.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.5% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.2% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

13.1% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.5% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

2.2% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews All Jobs Average
NSW 32.9 31.6
VIC 20.3 25.6
QLD 23.5 20.0
SA 5.2 7.0
WA 13.1 10.8
TAS 1.5 2.0
NT 2.2 1.0
ACT 1.0 1.9


  • Around 75% of Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews 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
38
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
13%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews is 38 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 13% of the workforce. This is 35 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 Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews All Jobs Average
15-19 3.3 5.0
20-24 14.3 9.3
25-34 24.9 22.9
35-44 21.9 22.0
45-54 22.3 21.6
55-59 7.8 9.0
60-64 4.1 6.0
65 and Over 1.3 4.2
Median Age 38 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 an Aircraft Baggage Handler and Airline Ground Crew. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in aviation (ground operations and services).

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 Aircraft Baggage Handlers and Airline Ground Crews All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.3 10.1
Bachelor degree 7.3 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 9.3 11.6
Certificate III/IV 26.0 21.1
Year 12 35.4 18.1
Year 11 6.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 14.2 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 Other Mobile Plant Operators who are trustworthy and responsible, can communicate with a variety of people and have good team work skills

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 55%

    Monitoring

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

  • 54%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 52%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 50%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 50%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 50%

    Time management

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

  • 46%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 46%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 45%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 43%

    Active listening

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

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 43%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 43%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 41%

    Active learning

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

  • 41%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 41%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 39%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 37%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 37%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 34%

    Operation monitoring

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 80%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 70%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 63%

    Education and training

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

  • 62%

    English language

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

  • 62%

    Transportation

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

  • 62%

    Administration and management

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

  • 61%

    Clerical

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

  • 58%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 56%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 55%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 50%

    Production and processing

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

  • 50%

    Geography

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

  • 46%

    Law and government

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

  • 46%

    Psychology

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

  • 44%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 37%

    Communications and media

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

  • 36%

    Mechanical

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

  • 31%

    Foreign language

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

  • 31%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 30%

    Physics

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 55%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 54%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 52%

    Visualization

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

  • 50%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 50%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 46%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 46%

    Near vision

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

  • 46%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 45%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 45%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 45%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 45%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 45%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 43%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 43%

    Trunk strength

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


Activities

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

  • 80%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 72%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 70%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 70%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 69%

    Guiding and directing staff

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

  • 69%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 66%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 66%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 65%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 64%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 61%

    Coordinating the work of a team

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

  • 61%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 61%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 61%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 57%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 57%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 56%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 54%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 53%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 51%

    Working with computers

    Using 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.

  • 100%

    Enterprising

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

  • 81%

    Practical

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

  • 52%

    Administrative

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

  • 38%

    Analytical

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

  • 29%

    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.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 76%

    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.

  • 76%

    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.

  • 62%

    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.

  • 55%

    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.

  • 52%

    Achievement

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

  • 52%

    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.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 99%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 99%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 98%

    Contact with people

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

  • 97%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 94%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 93%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 92%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 92%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 91%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 91%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 90%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 89%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 89%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

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

  • 88%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 88%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 87%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 85%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 85%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

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

  • 81%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

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, 53-1011.00 - Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors.


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