Drainers

ANZSCO ID 334113

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
4,300
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
89%
Female Share
2%
Average age
36

Summary

Drainers install, maintain and design below-ground drainage systems and associated sewerage or effluent disposal systems.

Specialisations: Septic Tank Installer.

Extensive experience or a certificate II in drainage is needed to work as a Drainer.

Tasks

  • Studies drawings and specifications to determine the layout of plumbing systems and materials required.

  • Installs sewerage and effluent pumping equipment and disposal systems.

  • Installs below-ground drainage systems and associated ground support systems.

Characteristics

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

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Plumbers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 89% of people employed as Drainers 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 45 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Construction
88.7%
2
Public Administration and Safety
2.6%
3
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
2.5%
4
Education and Training
0.7%
5
Other industries
3.0%
  • Most Drainers work in the Construction industry.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.


Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

24.6% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

28.8% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

3.3% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

11.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.9% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

2.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Drainers All Jobs Average
NSW 24.6 31.6
VIC 28.1 25.6
QLD 28.8 20.0
SA 3.3 7.0
WA 11.6 10.8
TAS 0.9 2.0
NT 0.6 1.0
ACT 2.1 1.9


  • Around 42% of Drainers 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

Age In Years
36
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
2%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Drainers is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.

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

    Females make up 2% of the workforce. This is 46 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Drainers All Jobs Average
15-19 5.5 5.0
20-24 13.9 9.3
25-34 28.0 22.9
35-44 20.3 22.0
45-54 16.6 21.6
55-59 7.4 9.0
60-64 5.7 6.0
65 and Over 2.7 4.2
Median Age 36 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

Extensive experience or a certificate II in drainage is needed to work as a Drainer.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Construction, Plumbing and Services VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Drainers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.2 10.1
Bachelor degree 0.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 74.9 21.1
Year 12 9.1 18.1
Year 11 3.8 4.8
Year 10 and below 8.5 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 Plumbers who work well in a team, are hardworking and provide good customer service.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 46%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 46%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 46%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 45%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 43%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 43%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 41%

    Active listening

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

  • 41%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 41%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 41%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 39%

    Active learning

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

  • 39%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 37%

    Time management

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

  • 36%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 34%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 32%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 63%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 59%

    Mechanical

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

  • 49%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 49%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 44%

    Production and processing

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

  • 42%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 42%

    Education and training

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

  • 42%

    Transportation

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

  • 39%

    Administration and management

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

  • 38%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 38%

    English language

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

  • 33%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 32%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 32%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 31%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 28%

    Clerical

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

  • 24%

    Physics

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

  • 21%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 20%

    Law and government

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

  • 12%

    Telecommunications

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 52%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 52%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 48%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 48%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 48%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 48%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 46%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 46%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 46%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 45%

    Near vision

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

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 41%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 41%

    Rate control

    Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.


Activities

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

  • 73%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 64%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 62%

    Doing physically active work

    Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.

  • 59%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 57%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 57%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 55%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 55%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 52%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 48%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 47%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 47%

    Influencing people

    Convincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.

  • 46%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 43%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 43%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 42%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 41%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 39%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 38%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 38%

    Looking for changes over time

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


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

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

  • 38%

    Enterprising

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

  • 33%

    Administrative

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

  • 24%

    Analytical

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

  • 19%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 14%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 62%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 62%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 48%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 38%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 33%

    Achievement

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

  • 29%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 96%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 95%

    Contact with people

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

  • 94%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 94%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 92%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 89%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 88%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 84%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 82%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 79%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

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

  • 79%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 78%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 76%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 76%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 74%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 74%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 73%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 73%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 72%

    Bright or inadequate lighting

    Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.

  • 72%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 47-4071.00 - Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners.


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