ICT Support and Test Engineers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
ICT Support and Test Engineers develop procedures and strategies to support, create, maintain and manage technical quality assurance processes and guidelines and systems infrastructure, investigate, analyse and resolve system problems and performance issues, and test the behaviour, functionality and integrity of systems.
Tasks
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scheduling and conducting quality audit inspections, and analysing and reviewing systems, data and documentation
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identifying variations and potential high risk areas in securing adherence to standards and procedures
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recommending corrective action plans and improvements in the resolution of non-compliance with standards detected through monitoring and auditing of processes and procedures
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communicating, educating and liaising with users and management to ensure awareness and adherence to standards, procedures and quality control issues and activities
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assisting in troubleshooting, diagnosing, testing and resolving system problems and issues
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developing, conducting and providing technical guidance and training in application software and operational procedures
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analysing, evaluating and diagnosing technical problems and issues such as installation, maintenance, repair, upgrade and configuration and troubleshooting of desktops, software, hardware, printers, Internet, email, databases, operating systems and security policies and procedures to ensure optimal database and system integrity, security, backup, reliability and performance
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testing, identifying and diagnosing functionality errors and faults in systems, and programming code within established testing protocols, guidelines and quality standards to ensure systems perform to specification
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performing organisational systems architecture reviews and assessments, and recommending current and future hardware and software strategies and directions
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creating and reviewing technical documentation such as procedural, instructional and operational guides and manuals, technical reports and specifications and maintenance inventory systems
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Sedentary
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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 very strongly
- is likely to reach 15,700 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 | 5,900 |
2012 | 5,000 |
2013 | 6,800 |
2014 | 9,600 |
2015 | 6,800 |
2016 | 7,500 |
2017 | 6,900 |
2018 | 12,900 |
2019 | 12,300 |
2020 | 12,600 |
2021 | 10,900 |
2026 | 15,700 |
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
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Around 91% of people employed as ICT Support and Test Engineers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 25 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).
Median full-time earnings are $2,020 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,784
- 1 in 4 earn more than $2,380
Median hourly earnings are $54, this is more 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. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. 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 | ICT Support and Test Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 2,020 | 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
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ICT Support and Test Engineers work in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Financial and insurance services
- Public administration and safety
- Information media and telecommunications.
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 | ICT Support and Test Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 43.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 30.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 10.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 5.4 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 4.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 89% of ICT Support and Test Engineers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and Victoria have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
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 ICT Support and Test Engineers 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 24% of the workforce. This is 24 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 | ICT Support and Test Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.8 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 36.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 34.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.0 | 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
A bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as computer science or software engineering) is usually needed to work as an ICT Support or Test Engineer. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications. There are also a wide range of vendor and industry certifications available that may substitute for formal qualifications.
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 | ICT Support and Test Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 21.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 44.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 14.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 6.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 10.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.3 | 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 and Test Engineers who can communicate clearly, work well in a team and have strong computer skills.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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54%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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52%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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52%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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50%
ProgrammingWriting computer programs.
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50%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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48%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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45%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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41%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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76%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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61%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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53%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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52%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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43%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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42%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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40%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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39%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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30%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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25%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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23%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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22%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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19%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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17%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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15%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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14%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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13%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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13%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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10%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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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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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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46%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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45%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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41%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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39%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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32%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
80%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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74%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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72%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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72%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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71%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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69%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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69%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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66%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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65%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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64%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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59%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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58%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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58%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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57%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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53%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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52%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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52%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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51%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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62%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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29%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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24%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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71%
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%
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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67%
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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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.
Demands
-
97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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95%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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95%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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91%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
87%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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86%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
85%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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83%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
79%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
79%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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76%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
69%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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68%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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67%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
66%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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65%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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63%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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61%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
58%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
58%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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, 15-1199.01 - Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers.
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.