Electrical Engineering Draftspersons
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Electrical Engineering Draftspersons prepare detailed drawings and plans of electrical installations and circuitry in support of Electrical Engineers and Engineering Technologists.
Specialisations: Electrical Engineering Design Draftsperson, Electrical Engineering Detail Draftsperson, Electrical Engineering Drafting Officer, Relays Draftsperson, Substation Design Draftsperson.
A diploma or advanced diploma in electrical engineering or another related field is usually needed to work as an Electrical Engineering Draftsperson. Some workers have a university qualification.
Tasks
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Prepares drawings, plans and diagrams of electrical installations and circuitry.
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Assists electrical engineers and engineering technologists in design and layout of electrical installations and circuitry on substations, switchgear, cabling systems and motor control systems.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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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, Electrical Engineering Draftspersons, Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 84% of people employed as Electrical Engineering Draftspersons work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 18 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).
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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Electrical Engineering Draftspersons work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Electricity, gas, water and waste services
- 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 | Electrical Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 21.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 27.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.8 | 7.0 |
WA | 18.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.6 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.6 | 1.9 |
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Around 62% of Electrical Engineering Draftspersons live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
Queensland and Western Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Electrical Engineering Draftspersons is 43 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 17% of the workforce. This is 31 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 | Electrical Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.3 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 25.0 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 23.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 11.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 43 | 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 diploma or advanced diploma in electrical engineering or another related field is usually needed to work as an Electrical Engineering Draftsperson. Some workers have a university qualification.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Electrotechnology, Transmission & Distribution, Electricity Supply Industry - Generation Sector and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Electrical Engineering Draftspersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 4.1 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 35.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 31.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 8.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 2.2 | 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 Electrical Engineering Draftspersons, Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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63%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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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%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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52%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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52%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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50%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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50%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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50%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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48%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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48%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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46%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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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.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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85%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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83%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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82%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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70%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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65%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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64%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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63%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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60%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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59%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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57%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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56%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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50%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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49%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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47%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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46%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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46%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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43%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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43%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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40%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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31%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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63%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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61%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
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%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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54%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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52%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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52%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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48%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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48%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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48%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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39%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
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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75%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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74%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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73%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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73%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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72%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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72%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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70%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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68%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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67%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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66%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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64%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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62%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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61%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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60%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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60%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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59%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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58%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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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95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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76%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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57%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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38%
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%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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19%
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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69%
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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67%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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48%
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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43%
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
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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98%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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96%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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93%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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90%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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89%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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87%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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85%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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83%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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81%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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79%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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76%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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76%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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75%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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74%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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71%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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70%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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68%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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63%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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, 17-3029.02 - Electrical Engineering Technologists.
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.