Civil Engineering Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Civil Engineering Technicians conduct tests of construction materials, prepare sketches and tabulations, and assist in estimating costs in support of Civil Engineering Professionals and Engineering Technologists.
Specialisations: Civil Engineering Assistant, Civil Laboratory Technician, Geotechnical Laboratory Technician.
A Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in civil engineering or another relevant field is usually needed to work as a Civil Engineering Technician. Some workers have a university qualification.
Tasks
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Prepares sketches, charts, tabulations, plans and designs for civil engineering works such as drainage, water supply, sewage reticulation systems, roads, airports, dams and other structures.
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Performs and directs fieldwork and laboratory testing.
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Interprets work assignment instructions, applies appropriate procedures and selects equipment.
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Collects and analyses data and carries out computations.
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Estimates material costs and ensures finished works are within specifications, regulations and contract provisions.
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Inspects civil engineering works, and organises and supervises maintenance and repair work.
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Conducts field and laboratory tests of construction materials and soils, and collects 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. 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, Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 89% of people employed as Civil Engineering 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 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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Civil Engineering Technicians work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety
- Construction
- Manufacturing.
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 | Civil Engineering Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 23.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 16.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 32.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.6 | 7.0 |
WA | 13.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 2.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.9 | 1.9 |
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Around 54% of Civil Engineering Technicians live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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
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The median age of Civil Engineering Technicians is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 12% of the workforce. This is 36 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 Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 8.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 26.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 22.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 20.4 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 3.5 | 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 Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in civil engineering or another relevant field is usually needed to work as a Civil Engineering Technician. Some workers have a university qualification.
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 Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 5.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 15.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 25.6 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 28.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 14.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 7.7 | 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%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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48%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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46%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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43%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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39%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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39%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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39%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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39%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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39%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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37%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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73%
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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67%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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64%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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60%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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57%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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55%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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51%
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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49%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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48%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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47%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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45%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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43%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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39%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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31%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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25%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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25%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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21%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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17%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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14%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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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%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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50%
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%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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46%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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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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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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43%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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43%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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36%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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76%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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72%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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71%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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71%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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70%
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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69%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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67%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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66%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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65%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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65%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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61%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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58%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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58%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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56%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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56%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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54%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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52%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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49%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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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86%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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76%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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71%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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38%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without 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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14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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76%
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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67%
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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62%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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60%
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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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.
Demands
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98%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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89%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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87%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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86%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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85%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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85%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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84%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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75%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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75%
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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74%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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74%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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73%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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73%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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72%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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71%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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69%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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66%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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65%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to 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, 17-3022.00 - Civil Engineering Technicians.
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.