Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians assist in civil engineering research, design, construction, operations and maintenance.
Tasks
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preparing sketches, charts, tabulations, plans and designs for civil engineering works such as drainage, water supply, sewerage reticulation systems, roads, airports, dams, bridges and other structures
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performing and directing fieldwork and laboratory testing
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interpreting work assignment instructions, applying appropriate procedures and selecting equipment
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collecting and analysing data, and carrying out computations
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estimating material costs and ensuring finished works are within specifications, regulations and contract provisions
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inspecting civil engineering works, and organising and supervising maintenance and repair work
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conducting field and laboratory tests of construction materials and soils, and collecting data for traffic surveys
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Light
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Medium
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 in this occupation is likely to remain stable.
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.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 9,700 |
2012 | 12,900 |
2013 | 12,800 |
2014 | 10,500 |
2015 | 7,100 |
2016 | 16,400 |
2017 | 11,700 |
2018 | 5,800 |
2019 | 12,800 |
2020 | 11,300 |
2021 | 25,400 |
2026 | 25,700 |
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
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Around 89% of people employed as Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 percentage points above 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).
Median full-time earnings are $1,730 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,358
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,042
Median hourly earnings are $44, this is more 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. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,730 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians work in the Professional, scientific and technical services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 24.9 | 31.6 |
VIC | 18.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 31.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Queensland and Western Australia 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 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians is 39 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 14% of the workforce. This is 34 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 | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 29.4 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 25.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 19.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.1 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 39 | 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 formal qualification in civil engineering (or another relevant field) and experience working with drafting software is usually needed to work as a Civil Engineering Draftsperson or Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Resources and Infrastructure Industry VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.0 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 38.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 21.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 13.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 3.8 | 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 Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians who interact well with others, are reliable and provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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50%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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46%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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46%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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36%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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36%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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82%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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69%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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68%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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63%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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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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55%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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55%
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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52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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49%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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43%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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40%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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37%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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36%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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35%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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34%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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33%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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33%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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28%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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27%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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22%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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52%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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48%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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48%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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48%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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46%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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46%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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43%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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37%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
85%
Drafting, laying out, and specifying partsDetailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
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77%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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65%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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63%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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62%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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61%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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61%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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60%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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59%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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59%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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56%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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52%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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50%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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49%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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48%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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48%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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46%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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41%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use 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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90%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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57%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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29%
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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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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62%
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.
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52%
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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52%
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.
-
52%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
48%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
38%
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.
Demands
-
94%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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92%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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90%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
85%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
80%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
79%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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79%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
73%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
70%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
68%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
67%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
65%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
64%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
63%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
62%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
-
60%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
58%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other 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, 17-3011.02 - Civil Drafters.
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.