Hardware Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Hardware Technicians support and maintain computer systems and peripherals by installing, configuring, testing, troubleshooting, and repairing hardware.
Tasks
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Determines software and hardware requirements to provide solutions to problems.
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Responds to queries on software and hardware problems.
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Installs and downloads appropriate software.
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Adapting existing programs to meet users' requirements.
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Ensuring efficient use of applications and equipment.
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Implementing computer networks, designing and maintaining websites.
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Repairing and replacing peripheral equipment such as terminals, printer and modems.
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May work in a call centre.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Light
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, ICT Support Technicians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 72% of people employed as Hardware Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 6 percentage points above 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
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Hardware Technicians work 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 | Hardware Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 34.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.3 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.5 | 20.0 |
SA | 6.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 9.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.8 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 3.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 66% of Hardware Technicians live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - South East
- Australian Capital Territory
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Sydney - Parramatta
- Sydney - Inner South West.
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 Hardware Technicians is 36 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 6% of the workforce. This is 42 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 | Hardware Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 5.1 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 11.0 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 27.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 25.6 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.7 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.2 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 36 | 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
Extensive experience or a formal qualification in information technology is needed to work as a Hardware Technician. Vocational Education and Training (VET) and university are both common study pathways.
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 Information and Communications Technology VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Hardware Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 7.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 21.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 19.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 18.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 23.7 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 5.3 | 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 ICT Support Technicians who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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54%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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52%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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52%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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50%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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48%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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48%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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46%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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46%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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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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46%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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45%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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45%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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39%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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37%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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74%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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64%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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55%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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45%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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39%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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35%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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34%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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33%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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32%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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32%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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31%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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29%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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26%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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26%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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25%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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22%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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17%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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16%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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14%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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59%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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54%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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52%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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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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52%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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48%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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48%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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48%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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46%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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45%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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75%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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73%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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72%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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70%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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69%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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69%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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67%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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62%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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61%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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60%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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59%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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59%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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57%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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56%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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53%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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52%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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46%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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42%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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34%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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76%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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52%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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76%
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.
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71%
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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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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45%
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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43%
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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38%
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.
Demands
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100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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99%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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89%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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88%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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85%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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84%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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81%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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78%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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78%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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66%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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65%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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64%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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64%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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63%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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62%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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62%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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60%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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58%
Automation of tasksDo tasks that are mostly automated.
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, 43-9011.00 - Computer Operators.
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.