Filing and Registry Clerks
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Filing and Registry Clerks process and handle information and documents to maintain access to and security of database and record management systems.
Also known as: Records Clerk.
Specialisations: Medical Record Clerk.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Filing or Registry Clerk. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or university degree in business administration, information management or clerical studies.
Tasks
-
sorting information and documents for filing according to database and record management system protocols
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classifying and coding information and documents for inclusion in database and record management systems
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updating and modifying records
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filing information and documents in database and record management systems
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identifying and retrieving information and documents for users
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recording file and document movements
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labelling storage locations, and assembling and labelling new files
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removing inactive and dead files
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
-
Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
-
Administrative
-
Sedentary
-
Light
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 21,700 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.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 20,600 |
2012 | 21,400 |
2013 | 20,300 |
2014 | 17,300 |
2015 | 20,100 |
2016 | 14,900 |
2017 | 14,500 |
2018 | 24,300 |
2019 | 19,200 |
2020 | 17,100 |
2021 | 20,800 |
2026 | 21,700 |
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 59% of people employed as Filing and Registry Clerks work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 7 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,490 per week, this is lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,248
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,503
Median hourly earnings are $40, this is similar to 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.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Filing and Registry Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,490 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
-
Filing and Registry Clerks work in industries like:
- Public administration and safety
- Health care and social assistance
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Construction.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Filing and Registry Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 15.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 3.0 | 1.9 |
-
Around 70% of Filing and Registry Clerks live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia 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
-
The median age of Filing and Registry Clerks 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 79% of the workforce. This is 31 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 | Filing and Registry Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 5.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 9.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 19.7 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 19.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 22.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 10.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 5.5 | 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 essential to work as a Filing or Registry Clerk. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or university degree in business administration, information management or clerical studies.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Public Sector VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Filing and Registry Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.7 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 17.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 13.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 15.7 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 26.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 6.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 14.2 | 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 Filing and Registry Clerks who have good computer skills, can communicate clearly and can interact with a variety of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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43%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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43%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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43%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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34%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
32%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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32%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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32%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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32%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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32%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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32%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
30%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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30%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
30%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
30%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
30%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
-
27%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
-
25%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
69%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
55%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
54%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
46%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
44%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
44%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
39%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
-
39%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
38%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
38%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
37%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
37%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
35%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
-
34%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
29%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
28%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
-
26%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
26%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
24%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
21%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
52%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
50%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
45%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
45%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
-
43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
43%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
-
43%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
-
43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
41%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
41%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
41%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
41%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
39%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
-
37%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
-
37%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
29%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
70%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
65%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
60%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
58%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
56%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
55%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
52%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
49%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
-
48%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
-
47%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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47%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
-
46%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
43%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
43%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
41%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
40%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
-
39%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
39%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
39%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
-
38%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
67%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
52%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
33%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
62%
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.
-
48%
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.
-
38%
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.
-
33%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
31%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
29%
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.
Demands
-
100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
92%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
92%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
90%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
85%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
82%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
80%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
79%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
78%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
78%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
75%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
75%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
73%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
72%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
64%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
61%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
61%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
58%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
57%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other 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, 43-4071.00 - File Clerks.
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
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.