Hospital orderlies
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Hospital Orderlies assist with the provision of care to patients in a hospital by ensuring wards are neat and tidy, lifting and turning patients and transporting them in wheelchairs or on movable beds, and providing direct care and support.
Also known as: Wardsperson or Patient Services Assistant.
Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Hospital Orderly. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in health support services or health services assistance.
Tasks
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Assists patients with their personal care needs such as showering, dressing and eating.
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Assists patients with their mobility and communication needs.
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Moves patients around the facility by pushing them in wheelchairs or in mobile beds.
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Moves equipment around the facility.
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Performs generally manual support tasks at the direction of medical staff.
Characteristics
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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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Medium
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Heavy
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Very Heavy
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, Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 60% of people employed as Hospital orderlies work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 6 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
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Most Hospital orderlies work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
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 | Hospital orderlies | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.7 | 31.6 |
VIC | 25.1 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.4 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 3.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 41% of Hospital orderlies live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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 Hospital orderlies is 48 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.
Females make up 38% of the workforce. This is 10 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 | Hospital orderlies | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 8.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 13.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 16.5 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 27.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 15.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 10.9 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 5.1 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 48 | 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 Hospital Orderly. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in health support services or health services assistance.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Health Industry and Community Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Hospital orderlies | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 9.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.5 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 26.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 22.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 6.5 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 25.5 | 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 Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and physically fit with good people skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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37%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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37%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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36%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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36%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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32%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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32%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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30%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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30%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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30%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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29%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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29%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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29%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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27%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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23%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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23%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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23%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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23%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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23%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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21%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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20%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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59%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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32%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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30%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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28%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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28%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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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%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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21%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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20%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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18%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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18%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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18%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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17%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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14%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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13%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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12%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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11%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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9%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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9%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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9%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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55%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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48%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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45%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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45%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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45%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
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43%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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41%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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41%
Dynamic strengthExercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
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39%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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39%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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39%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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39%
StaminaExercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
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37%
Explosive strengthQuickly jump, sprint, or throw an object.
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37%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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37%
Whole body coordinationMove your arms, legs, and body together.
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36%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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36%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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36%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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34%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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32%
BalanceKeep your balance or stay upright.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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83%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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73%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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59%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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54%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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52%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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52%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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51%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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49%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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46%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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45%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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44%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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44%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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42%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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41%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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41%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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40%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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39%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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38%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
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38%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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31%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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%
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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48%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
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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14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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67%
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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62%
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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40%
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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33%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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29%
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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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
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98%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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97%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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97%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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96%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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95%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
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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92%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
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92%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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90%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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88%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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88%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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87%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
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85%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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85%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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83%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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83%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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81%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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, 31-1015.00 - Orderlies.
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.