Fencers

ANZSCO ID 8213

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
9,900
Future Growth
5%
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
70%
Female Share
4%
Average age
42

Summary

Fencers erect and repair fences and gates.

Also known as: Fence Erector.

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Fencer. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in agriculture with a fencing module.

Tasks

  • laying out fence lines and marking positions for post holes

  • lifting and positioning fence posts in holes and securing posts with concrete, stone fill and soil

  • forming fence frames

  • constructing and attaching gates to fences

  • stretching materials between fence posts

  • constructing wooden paling, fibre-cement and metal fences

  • repairing and demolishing existing fences

Characteristics

Job Type
Labourers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Above average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow moderately
  • is likely to reach 12,100 by 2026.
  • Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

    Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

    Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
5%
(or 600 jobs)
From
11,500
in 2021
To
12,100
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 15,200
2012 8,700
2013 7,500
2014 7,500
2015 6,900
2016 7,500
2017 11,100
2018 10,400
2019 10,600
2020 14,000
2021 11,500
2026 12,100

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 71% of people employed as Fencers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 5 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median hourly earnings are $31, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.


Industries

Main industries

1
Construction
86.1%
2
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
6.5%
3
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
6.5%
4
Public Administration and Safety
0.9%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

30.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

25.7% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

21.1% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

11.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.2% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Fencers All Jobs Average
NSW 30.0 31.6
VIC 25.7 25.6
QLD 21.1 20.0
SA 7.6 7.0
WA 11.6 10.8
TAS 1.8 2.0
NT 1.2 1.0
ACT 1.0 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
42
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
4%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Fencers is 42 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 4% of the workforce. This is 44 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 Fencers All Jobs Average
15-19 4.0 5.0
20-24 10.1 9.3
25-34 20.5 22.9
35-44 21.8 22.0
45-54 23.4 21.6
55-59 9.5 9.0
60-64 6.5 6.0
65 and Over 4.3 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

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Fencer. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in agriculture with a fencing module.

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 Fencers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.3 10.1
Bachelor degree 2.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 4.2 11.6
Certificate III/IV 30.0 21.1
Year 12 18.7 18.1
Year 11 9.2 4.8
Year 10 and below 35.2 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 Fencers who are reliable, physically fit and are hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 43%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 39%

    Time management

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

  • 39%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 39%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 37%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 37%

    Monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 34%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 34%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 34%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 34%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 32%

    Active listening

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

  • 32%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Active learning

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

  • 32%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 30%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 43%

    Building and construction

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

  • 38%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 35%

    Mechanical

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

  • 33%

    English language

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

  • 32%

    Production and processing

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

  • 30%

    Education and training

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

  • 30%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 29%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 29%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 28%

    Administration and management

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

  • 28%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 28%

    Technical design

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

  • 26%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 26%

    Transportation

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

  • 24%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 19%

    Clerical

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

  • 19%

    Physics

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

  • 18%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 18%

    Law and government

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

  • 11%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 59%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 55%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 50%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 48%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Control precision

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

  • 45%

    Dynamic strength

    Exercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.

  • 45%

    Reaction time

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

  • 45%

    Stamina

    Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Depth perception

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

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 41%

    Near vision

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

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 39%

    Whole body coordination

    Move your arms, legs, and body together.

  • 38%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 38%

    Speed of limb movement

    Quickly move the arms and legs.

  • 36%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 32%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.


Activities

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

  • 87%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 77%

    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).

  • 53%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 50%

    Working with the public

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

  • 48%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 47%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 45%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 45%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 44%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 42%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 42%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 41%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 41%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 40%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 39%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 39%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 35%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 34%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 32%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.


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.

  • 67%

    Administrative

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

  • 38%

    Analytical

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

  • 38%

    Enterprising

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

  • 19%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 52%

    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.

  • 52%

    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.

  • 38%

    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.

  • 29%

    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:
  • 99%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 97%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 94%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 92%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 88%

    Contact with people

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

  • 87%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 84%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 84%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 84%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 82%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 81%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 80%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 79%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 78%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 77%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 73%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 73%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 72%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 72%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 71%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

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, 47-4031.00 - Fence Erectors.


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