Insulation and Home Improvement Installers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Insulation and Home Improvement Installers install a variety of insulation materials to improve resistance to heat, cold, air, sound and moisture, and install functional and decorative home improvements.
Tasks
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examining plans, specifications and work sites to determine the type and quality of installations required and their location
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preparing site for insulation and installation of fittings by nailing up furring, drilling holes for screws and bolts, and erecting scaffolding and ladders
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gluing blocks and slabs of foamed plastic and cork to walls
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operating equipment to blow and spray mineral wool, fibre fill and foam insulation material into cavities
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cutting insulation material to size and shape, and nailing and stapling batt-type insulation to joists, studs and furring
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measuring, cutting and applying solar control film to windows
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fitting awnings, security screens, shower screens, prefabricated windows and doors, exterior cladding and other home improvements using hand tools
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drilling holes in wood, brick, stone and fibrous structures, and bolting, screwing and nailing fittings into place
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attaching and adjusting mechanical fittings such as cranks, locks and pull-cords
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installing flashing and waterproofing to fittings such as shower screens and prefabricated windows and doors
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
-
Medium
-
Heavy
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 strongly
- is likely to reach 24,300 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 | 16,500 |
2012 | 13,500 |
2013 | 17,100 |
2014 | 13,600 |
2015 | 19,600 |
2016 | 27,400 |
2017 | 25,600 |
2018 | 18,300 |
2019 | 29,500 |
2020 | 20,100 |
2021 | 22,400 |
2026 | 24,300 |
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 78% of people employed as Insulation and Home Improvement Installers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 12 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
Median full-time earnings are $1,379 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,265
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,626
Median hourly earnings are $33, this is lower 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. 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 | Insulation and Home Improvement Installers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,379 | 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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Most Insulation and Home Improvement Installers work in the Construction industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Insulation and Home Improvement Installers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 31.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 22.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 12.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.1 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.2 | 1.9 |
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Around 42% of Insulation and Home Improvement Installers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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 Insulation and Home Improvement Installers is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 3% of the workforce. This is 45 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 | Insulation and Home Improvement Installers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 9.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 24.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 22.5 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.8 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.7 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 40 | 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 usually required to work as an Insulation or Home Improvement Installer. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in areas such as building, carpentry, joinery or metal trades.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Construction, Plumbing and Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Insulation and Home Improvement Installers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 0.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 3.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 4.7 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 39.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 20.1 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 8.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 23.7 | 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 Insulation and Home Improvement Installers who make good decisions, are polite, courteous and reliable.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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43%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
-
41%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
39%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
39%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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39%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
37%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
34%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
34%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
32%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
32%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
-
32%
SpeakingTalking to others.
-
32%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
30%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
30%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
30%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
30%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
30%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
29%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
29%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
27%
Equipment selectionDeciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
50%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
46%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
40%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
38%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
36%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
34%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
34%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
32%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
31%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
30%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
26%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
24%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
22%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
21%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
19%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
18%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
16%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
16%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
15%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
13%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
-
59%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
48%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
45%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
45%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
45%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
43%
BalanceKeep your balance or stay upright.
-
43%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
43%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
43%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
41%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
-
41%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
41%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
-
41%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
41%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
39%
Depth perceptionDecide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
-
39%
StaminaExercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.
-
37%
Dynamic strengthExercise for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
-
32%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
79%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
61%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
54%
Working with mechanical equipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
50%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
50%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
48%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
46%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
46%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
46%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
44%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
44%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
44%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
44%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
42%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
41%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
37%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
35%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
-
34%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
34%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
27%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
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.
-
95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
33%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
24%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
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.
-
38%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
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.
-
33%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
33%
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.
-
33%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Demands
-
93%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
86%
Wear specialized protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.
-
85%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
85%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
82%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
81%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
81%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
80%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
79%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
78%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
78%
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stingsBe exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
78%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
78%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
77%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
76%
Cramped work spaceWork in an awkward position or in cramped work spaces.
-
75%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
74%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
74%
Work at heightsWork in high places (e.g., on poles, scaffolding, catwalks, or ladders).
-
74%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 47-2131.00 - Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall.
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.