Telecommunications Trades Workers

ANZSCO ID 3424

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
21,000
Future Growth
-5.2%
Weekly Earnings
$1,542
Full-Time Share
75%
Female Share
4%
Average age
40

Summary

Telecommunications Trades Workers install, maintain and repair data transmission equipment, aerial lines, conduits, cables, radio antennae and telecommunications equipment and appliances.

Tasks

  • examining drawings, specifications and work areas to determine positioning and connections for equipment to be installed

  • locating faults in telecommunications equipment using instruments such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, ammeters and transmission measuring equipment

  • attaching wires and cables to appliances

  • adjusting, replacing and repairing faulty items, and testing equipment using electronic instruments

  • installing cabling for telephone, radio, pay TV and computer transmission

  • joining cables and sealing sheaths with lead and thermoplastic

  • erecting, testing and maintaining aerial and underground wires and cables, and radio and mobile phone antennae

  • installing telecommunications equipment and appliances such as telephones, switchboards and data transmission equipment

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment 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 decline
  • is likely to reach 14,700 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.

Projected Change
-5.2%
(or -800 jobs)
From
15,500
in 2021
To
14,700
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 17,000
2012 21,900
2013 19,600
2014 26,600
2015 22,700
2016 22,800
2017 19,900
2018 26,200
2019 25,600
2020 24,400
2021 15,500
2026 14,700

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

  • Around 85% of people employed as Telecommunications Trades Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 19 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 43 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 $1,542 per week, this is lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,245
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,725

    Median hourly earnings are $38, this is similar to 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)

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.
Earnings Telecommunications Trades Workers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,542 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

1
Information Media and Telecommunications
53.7%
2
Construction
14.9%
3
Other Services
11.4%
4
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
4.6%
5
Other industries
14.9%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

31.0% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

23.0% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

20.9% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.7% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

11.8% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.5% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.5% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.6% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Telecommunications Trades Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 31.0 31.6
VIC 23.0 25.6
QLD 20.9 20.0
SA 7.7 7.0
WA 11.8 10.8
TAS 2.5 2.0
NT 1.5 1.0
ACT 1.6 1.9


  • Around 60% of Telecommunications Trades Workers live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
40
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
4%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Telecommunications Trades Workers 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 4% of the workforce. This is 44 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)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Telecommunications Trades Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 2.2 5.0
20-24 9.2 9.3
25-34 25.9 22.9
35-44 22.0 22.0
45-54 22.8 21.6
55-59 9.6 9.0
60-64 6.4 6.0
65 and Over 2.0 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 essential to work as a Telecommunications Trades Worker. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in telecommunications technology.

Registration or licencing may be required.

Visit

  • 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)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Telecommunications Trades Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 2.7 10.1
Bachelor degree 8.6 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 12.7 11.6
Certificate III/IV 49.2 21.1
Year 12 13.8 18.1
Year 11 4.2 4.8
Year 10 and below 8.8 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 Telecommunications Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 54%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 52%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 52%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 50%

    Active listening

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

  • 50%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 48%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 48%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 48%

    Monitoring

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

  • 48%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 46%

    Active learning

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

  • 46%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 46%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 46%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 46%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 45%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 45%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 43%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 41%

    Time management

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

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 76%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 67%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 64%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 59%

    Mechanical

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

  • 53%

    Education and training

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

  • 52%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 49%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 49%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 44%

    Clerical

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

  • 44%

    English language

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

  • 43%

    Technical design

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

  • 43%

    Administration and management

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

  • 43%

    Production and processing

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

  • 38%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 36%

    Transportation

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

  • 34%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 30%

    Building and construction

    Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.

  • 30%

    Law and government

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

  • 21%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 21%

    Personnel and human resources

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 55%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 55%

    Near vision

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

  • 55%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 54%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 52%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 52%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 50%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 50%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 48%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 48%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 48%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Control precision

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

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 45%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 45%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 38%

    Depth perception

    Decide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.


Activities

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

  • 72%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 71%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 70%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 70%

    Working with electronic equipment

    Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.

  • 63%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 60%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 58%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 57%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 56%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 55%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 55%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 51%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 50%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 49%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 49%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 48%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 45%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 45%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 44%

    Documenting or recording information

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

  • 44%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 71%

    Analytical

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

  • 67%

    Administrative

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

  • 33%

    Enterprising

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

  • 29%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 19%

    Creative

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


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 81%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 71%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 69%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 62%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 57%

    Achievement

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

  • 38%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 92%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 92%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

    Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).

  • 90%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 88%

    Contact with people

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

  • 87%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 85%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 84%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 83%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 82%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 82%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 81%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 80%

    Cramped work space

    Work in an awkward position or in cramped work spaces.

  • 80%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 79%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 77%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 75%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 75%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 74%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 71%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 68%

    Bright or inadequate lighting

    Work in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-2022.00 - Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers.


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