Mail Clerks
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Mail Clerks collect, sort and despatch mail within organisations.
Tasks
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Receives and checks incoming mail and mail bags.
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Assists with the verification of registered and special articles.
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Operates mail processing equipment such as letter preparation lines, letter indexing and sorting equipment, multi-line optical character machines and bar-coding equipment.
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Performs manual sorting duties and prepares documentation for dispatching mail.
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Processes underpaid mail, bulk mail lodgements, express mail and other mail services.
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Investigates complaints regarding lost items.
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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Light
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Medium
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, Mail Sorters, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 60% of people employed as Mail Clerks 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 40 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours less than 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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Mail Clerks work in industries like:
- Transport, postal and warehousing
- Financial and insurance services
- Public administration and safety
- Professional, scientific and technical services.
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 | Mail Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 34.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 30.0 | 25.6 |
QLD | 15.4 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.7 | 7.0 |
WA | 8.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 4.0 | 1.9 |
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Around 78% of Mail Clerks live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - West
- Melbourne - South East
- Sydney - Inner South West
- Sydney - Parramatta
- Australian Capital Territory.
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 Mail Clerks is 47 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 50% of the workforce. This is similar to 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 | Mail Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.8 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 8.4 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 15.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 18.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 23.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 13.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 10.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 7.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 47 | 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 a Mail Clerk. Some workers have Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications in areas such as warehousing, distribution or business.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Transport and Logistics Training Package VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Mail Clerks | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 2.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 11.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 9.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 12.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 31.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 8.8 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 22.7 | 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 Mail Sorters who are efficient, reliable and have a good work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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41%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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41%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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39%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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39%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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39%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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37%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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37%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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37%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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37%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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36%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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30%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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30%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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29%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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29%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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27%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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27%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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27%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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20%
TroubleshootingFiguring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
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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42%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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40%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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36%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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35%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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32%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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29%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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28%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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25%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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22%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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19%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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19%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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14%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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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%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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13%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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11%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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10%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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7%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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7%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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45%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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43%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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43%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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43%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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43%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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43%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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41%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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41%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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39%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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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%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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39%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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39%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
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39%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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37%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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37%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
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36%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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66%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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45%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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41%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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40%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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38%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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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%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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37%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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35%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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34%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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34%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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33%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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29%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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29%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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29%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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29%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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28%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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27%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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27%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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26%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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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95%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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86%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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33%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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33%
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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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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52%
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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33%
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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31%
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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29%
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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24%
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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99%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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97%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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94%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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94%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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93%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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90%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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90%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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88%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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87%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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86%
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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85%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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82%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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81%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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80%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
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78%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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77%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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75%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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73%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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73%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 43-9051.00 - Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service.
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.