Archaeologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Archaeologists study human activity in the past, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data left behind, which includes artefacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes (the archaeological record).
Tasks
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Uses aerial photography to locate sites that are suitable for excavation and/or digging (for artifacts).
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Plans and organises surveys and excavations within a particular archaeological site.
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Conducts field work (digging for artifacts) using tools such as pickaxes, brushes and bulldozers.
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Carries out examination, documentation and preservation of artifacts.
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Performs analysis and interpretation of archaeological data and findings.
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Writes reports about the data and findings for publication.
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Creates virtual simulations of how artifacts or archaeological sites would have looked in the past.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Creative
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Sedentary
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Light
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, Social Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 76% of people employed as Archaeologists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 10 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
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 Archaeologists work in the Professional, scientific and technical services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Archaeologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 39.0 | 31.6 |
VIC | 29.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 8.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 3.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.8 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 6.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 74% of Archaeologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales, Victoria and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
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 Archaeologists is 41 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 51% of the workforce. This is 3 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 | Archaeologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 5.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 27.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 41 | 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 archaeology or another related field is needed to work as an Archaeologist. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Archaeologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 40.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 56.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 0.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 2.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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 Social Professionals who have good leadership and planning skills, with a strong ability to communicate.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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68%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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68%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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61%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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57%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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55%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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55%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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55%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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54%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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50%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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48%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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46%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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45%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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97%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
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90%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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78%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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78%
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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71%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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64%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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61%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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59%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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57%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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55%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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52%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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50%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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44%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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42%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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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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39%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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35%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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34%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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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%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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71%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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70%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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68%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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66%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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66%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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63%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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61%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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61%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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59%
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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57%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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57%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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50%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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48%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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43%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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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85%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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84%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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82%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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81%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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78%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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77%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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76%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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75%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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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%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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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%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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70%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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70%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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68%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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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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58%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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57%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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51%
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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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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67%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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52%
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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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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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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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74%
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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71%
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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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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98%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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87%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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82%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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81%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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80%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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78%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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73%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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73%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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72%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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71%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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68%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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68%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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67%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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67%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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67%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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66%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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65%
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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64%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
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, 19-3091.02 - Archeologists.
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.