Exercise Physiologists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Exercise Physiologists assess, plan and implement exercise programs for preventing and managing chronic diseases and injuries, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, cancer and arthritis, and assist in restoring optimal physical function, and health and wellness.
Tasks
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Assists and improves the function of muscles through physical activity and exercise programs.
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Administers a variety of tests to identify and assess physical problems and ailments of patients.
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Plans and discusses effective management of patients' disabilities, weight, injury or fitness.
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Designs, reviews, monitors, assesses and evaluates fitness/treatment programmes.
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Records detailed patient medical histories, exercise undertaken and the patients' responses and progress under exercise programs.
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Refers patients to specialists and liaises with other health professionals in relation to patients' problems, needs and progress.
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Educates patients, their partners, family and friends in rehabilitation procedures, such as home exercises and lifestyle changes, to enhance patients' health and wellbeing.
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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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, Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 66% of people employed as Exercise Physiologists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is the same as the all jobs average.
Full-time workers work an average of 43 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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Most Exercise Physiologists work in the Health care and social assistance industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Exercise Physiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 21.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 24.4 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 66% of Exercise Physiologists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
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 Exercise Physiologists is 28 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 52% of the workforce. This is 4 percentage points above 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 | Exercise Physiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 19.1 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 59.0 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 14.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 4.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 1.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 0.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.3 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 28 | 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 science majoring in exercise and sports, exercise and rehabilitation, health science, or a related field is needed to work as an Exercise Physiologist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Exercise Physiologists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 43.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 53.9 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 0.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.0 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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 Natural and Physical Science Professionals who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong interpersonal skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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64%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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61%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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59%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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59%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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54%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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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%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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52%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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50%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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48%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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74%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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72%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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67%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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66%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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63%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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59%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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59%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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58%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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58%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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56%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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53%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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48%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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47%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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47%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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41%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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41%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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40%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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36%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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35%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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32%
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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66%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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64%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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64%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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64%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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63%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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63%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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61%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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55%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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52%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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50%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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46%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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43%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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41%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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39%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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36%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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77%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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70%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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69%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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69%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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68%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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67%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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67%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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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%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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65%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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65%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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65%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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65%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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62%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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61%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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61%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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55%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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49%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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47%
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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90%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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76%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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57%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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52%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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48%
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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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Values
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90%
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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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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81%
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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71%
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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67%
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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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%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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96%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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95%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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94%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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94%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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93%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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87%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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86%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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81%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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79%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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79%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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74%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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71%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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71%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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69%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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67%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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67%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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64%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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64%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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64%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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, 29-1128.00 - Exercise Physiologists.
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.