Environmental Managers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Environmental Managers manage the development and implementation of environmental management systems within organisations by identifying, solving and alleviating environmental issues, such as pollution and waste treatment, in compliance with environmental legislation and to ensure corporate sustainable development.
Tasks
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Develops and implements environmental strategies, policies, practices and action plans to ensure corporate sustainable development.
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Co-ordinates all aspects of pollution control, waste management, recycling, environmental health, conservation and renewable energy to ensure compliance with environmental legislation.
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Audits, analyses and reports environmental performance to internal and external clients and regulatory bodies.
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Carries out impact assessments to identify, assess and reduce an organisation's environmental risks and financial costs.
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Promotes, raises awareness and trains staff at all levels on environmental issues and responsibilities.
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Negotiates environmental service agreements and manages associated costs and revenues.
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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, Other Specialist Managers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 86% of people employed as Environmental Managers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 20 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
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Environmental Managers work in industries like:
- Public administration and safety
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Mining
- Electricity, gas, water and waste services.
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 | Environmental Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.0 | 25.6 |
QLD | 16.4 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 14.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 42% of Environmental Managers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby
- Perth - South West
- Sydney - Northern Beaches
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
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 Environmental Managers is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 35% of the workforce. This is 13 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 | Environmental Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 16.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 41.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 24.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.3 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.9 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 42 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in environmental science, environmental management, sustainability or another related field is usually needed to work as an Environmental Manager. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) 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 Business Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Environmental Managers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 34.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 46.1 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 5.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 3.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.8 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.9 | 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 Other Specialist Managers who have strong leadership skills, the ability to communicate with a wide variety of people and strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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63%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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61%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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61%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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61%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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59%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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55%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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55%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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54%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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54%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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52%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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50%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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50%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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48%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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46%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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74%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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70%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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69%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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69%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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67%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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64%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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62%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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60%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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59%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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58%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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54%
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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53%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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52%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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51%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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46%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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44%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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44%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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42%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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42%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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39%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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66%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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64%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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64%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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63%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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63%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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61%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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61%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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59%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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52%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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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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50%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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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%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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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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39%
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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86%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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81%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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81%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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81%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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79%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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79%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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77%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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77%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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76%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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75%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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74%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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73%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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71%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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67%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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67%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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66%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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66%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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66%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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65%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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51%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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100%
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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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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62%
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%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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14%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
Values
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95%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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95%
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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90%
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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86%
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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71%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
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48%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
Demands
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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95%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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89%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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88%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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88%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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88%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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87%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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82%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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79%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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78%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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75%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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73%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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72%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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69%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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68%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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67%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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58%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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55%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 11-1011.03 - Chief Sustainability Officers.
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.