Mathematicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Mathematicians develop and apply mathematical principles and techniques to solve problems in all areas of science, engineering, technology, social sciences, business, industry and commerce.
Specialisations: Operations Research Analyst.
A bachelor degree in mathematical science is needed to work as a Mathematician. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Tasks
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Formulates mathematical models to simulate processes.
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Applies models to experimental observations, and adjusts and recasts the models.
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Uses numerical analysis methods to develop algorithms and perform computations.
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Liaises with management and clients to determine the subject or area to be surveyed or examined.
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Specifies the data to be collected, and the methodology to be used in collection and analysis.
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Evaluates and describes the reliability and utility of source information.
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Analyses and interprets data, and produces relevant statistics to describe and infer particular trends and patterns.
Characteristics
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University
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Analytical
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Creative
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Administrative
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Sedentary
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, Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 86% of people employed as Mathematicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 20 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).
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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Mathematicians work in industries like:
- Financial and insurance services
- Education and training
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Public administration and safety.
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 | Mathematicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 42.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 11.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 9.4 | 7.0 |
WA | 4.7 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.0 | 1.0 |
ACT | 6.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 91% of Mathematicians live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Mathematicians 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 23% of the workforce. This is 25 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 | Mathematicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.6 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 38.5 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 28.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 17.6 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 4.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.7 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.5 | 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 degree in mathematical science is needed to work as a Mathematician. Many workers have a postgraduate qualification.
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Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Mathematicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 67.9 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 29.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 0.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.6 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.9 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.0 | 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 Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians who have strong attention to detail, can communicate clearly and can work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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87%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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75%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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71%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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71%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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66%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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66%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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64%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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61%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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61%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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50%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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50%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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48%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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39%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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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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29%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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97%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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81%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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68%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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67%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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64%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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61%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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50%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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43%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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42%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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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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37%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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35%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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33%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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32%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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32%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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29%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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27%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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24%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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21%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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21%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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86%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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75%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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75%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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75%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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73%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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71%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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71%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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70%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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68%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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68%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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66%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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55%
Speed of recognitionQuickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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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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54%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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43%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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39%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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86%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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86%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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85%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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82%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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80%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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80%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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79%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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78%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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73%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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73%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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71%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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71%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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70%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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67%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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67%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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63%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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60%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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59%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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57%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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46%
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.
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100%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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67%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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57%
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.
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24%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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81%
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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76%
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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76%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
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33%
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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29%
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
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97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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93%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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91%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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89%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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88%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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83%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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82%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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78%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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76%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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72%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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70%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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67%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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58%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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58%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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58%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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54%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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53%
Public speakingTalk to a group of people.
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52%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
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51%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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50%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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, 15-2021.00 - Mathematicians.
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.