Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers

ANZSCO ID 831115

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,500
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
54%
Female Share
48%
Average age
37

Summary

Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers operate machines and perform routine tasks to prepare canned and frozen fruit and vegetables, and make and package sauces, jams and juices.

Tasks

  • Weighs, measures, mixes, dissolves and boils ingredients.

  • Add materials, such as spices and preservative to food and beverages.

  • Operates heating, chilling, freezing, pasteurising, carbonating, sulphuring and desulphuring plant.

  • Monitors product quality before packaging by inspecting, taking samples and adjusting treatment conditions when necessary.

  • Operates machines to peel, core, slice, dice, pit and juice fruit and vegetables.

  • Cleans equipment, pumps, hoses, storage tanks, vessels and floors, and maintains infestation control programmes.

  • Regulates speed of conveyors and crusher rollers.

  • Packages and bottles products.

  • Moves products from production lines into storage and shipping areas.


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, Food and Drink Factory Workers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 54% of people employed as Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 12 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 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
Manufacturing
45.5%
2
Accommodation and Food Services
15.5%
3
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
13.1%
4
Wholesale Trade
6.1%
5
Other industries
10.2%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

22.4% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

25.5% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.8% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

9.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.2% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

9.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.2% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.3% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 22.4 31.6
VIC 25.5 25.6
QLD 23.8 20.0
SA 9.6 7.0
WA 9.2 10.8
TAS 9.0 2.0
NT 0.2 1.0
ACT 0.3 1.9


  • Around 50% of Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Tasmania and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their 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
37
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
48%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers is 37 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

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

    Females make up 48% of the workforce. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    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 Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 14.4 5.0
20-24 12.2 9.3
25-34 20.0 22.9
35-44 16.8 22.0
45-54 19.0 21.6
55-59 9.9 9.0
60-64 5.7 6.0
65 and Over 2.0 4.2
Median Age 37 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 Fruit and Vegetable Factory Worker. Although some workers have a certificate I or II in food processing.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Food Processing 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 Fruit and Vegetable Factory Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 2.9 10.1
Bachelor degree 6.8 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 4.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 11.9 21.1
Year 12 30.1 18.1
Year 11 10.2 4.8
Year 10 and below 33.6 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 Food and Drink Factory Workers who are reliable, hardworking and have good people skills.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 50%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 39%

    Monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 36%

    Active listening

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

  • 36%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 36%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 34%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 34%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Time management

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

  • 34%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 34%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 34%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 32%

    Active learning

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

  • 30%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 41%

    Production and processing

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

  • 39%

    Mechanical

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

  • 36%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 33%

    English language

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

  • 28%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 26%

    Education and training

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

  • 22%

    Administration and management

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

  • 20%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 20%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 18%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 18%

    Clerical

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

  • 16%

    Chemistry

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

  • 13%

    Transportation

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

  • 12%

    Food production

    Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.

  • 11%

    Law and government

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

  • 10%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 9%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 8%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 8%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 7%

    Technical design

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 52%

    Control precision

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

  • 50%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 50%

    Near vision

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

  • 50%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 46%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 46%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 46%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 45%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 43%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 41%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 37%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.


Activities

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

  • 80%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 72%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 56%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 53%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 52%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 50%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 48%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 48%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 47%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 47%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 45%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 45%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 45%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 44%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 41%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 40%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 40%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 36%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 36%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 36%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.


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.

  • 76%

    Administrative

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

  • 43%

    Analytical

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

  • 24%

    Creative

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

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 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.
  • 76%

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 29%

    Achievement

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

  • 29%

    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.

  • 24%

    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:
  • 97%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 88%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 87%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 85%

    Pace of work set by equipment

    Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.

  • 85%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 85%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 83%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 82%

    Contact with people

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

  • 76%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 75%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 74%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 73%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 72%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 72%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

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

  • 69%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 69%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 66%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 66%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 64%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 64%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

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, 51-9111.00 - Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders.


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