Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere)

ANZSCO ID 721999

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
840
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
88%
Female Share
5%
Average age
40

Summary

Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) includes jobs like Cable Ferry Operator, Dredge Operator, Mulcher Operator, Snow Groomer, Straddle Carrier Operator, and Tunneller.

Tasks

  • Prepares and positions plant for operation.

  • Selects, fits and removes attachments.

  • Operates controls to carry out required tasks.

  • Monitors operation of plant and adjusts controls to regulate pressure, speed and flow of operation, and ensures safety of other workers.

  • Raises, lowers and manipulates attachments using manual and hydraulic controls.

  • Works from drawings, markers and verbal instructions.

  • Services, lubricates, cleans and refuels plant and performs minor adjustments and repairs.

Characteristics


Outlook

Employment 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, Other Mobile Plant Operators, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 88% of people employed as Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 22 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 50 hours per week in their main job. This is 6 hours more 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

1
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
30.6%
2
Construction
24.4%
3
Public Administration and Safety
15.6%
4
Mining
8.0%
5
Other industries
16.6%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

24.2% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

32.5% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

20.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

8.9% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

10.4% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

0.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

2.5% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) All Jobs Average
NSW 24.2 31.6
VIC 32.5 25.6
QLD 20.6 20.0
SA 8.9 7.0
WA 10.4 10.8
TAS 0.8 2.0
NT 2.5 1.0
ACT 0.0 1.9


  • Around 50% of Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.

    The region with the largest share of workers is Melbourne - West.

    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
5%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.

    A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.

    Females make up 5% of the workforce. This is 43 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 Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) All Jobs Average
15-19 1.7 5.0
20-24 8.9 9.3
25-34 24.5 22.9
35-44 25.2 22.0
45-54 21.2 21.6
55-59 10.2 9.0
60-64 5.3 6.0
65 and Over 3.0 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 Mobile Plant Operator (not covered elsewhere). Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in a related trade.

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)

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 Mobile Plant Operators (not covered elsewhere) All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 3.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 3.4 11.6
Certificate III/IV 35.0 21.1
Year 12 23.7 18.1
Year 11 7.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 27.0 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 Other Mobile Plant Operators who are trustworthy and responsible, can communicate with a variety of people and have good team work skills

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 52%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 46%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 45%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Monitoring

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

  • 41%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 39%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 37%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 37%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 36%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 36%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 34%

    Active listening

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

  • 34%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 34%

    Time management

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

  • 34%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 34%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 34%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 32%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 30%

    Active learning

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 72%

    Mechanical

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

  • 48%

    English language

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

  • 48%

    Administration and management

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

  • 47%

    Education and training

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

  • 47%

    Production and processing

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

  • 34%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 33%

    Building and construction

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

  • 32%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 32%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 28%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 26%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 26%

    Transportation

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

  • 25%

    Law and government

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

  • 16%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 15%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 15%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 15%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 13%

    Technical design

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

  • 11%

    Communications and media

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

  • 11%

    Medicine and dentistry

    Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Control precision

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

  • 57%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 52%

    Depth perception

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

  • 52%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 50%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 48%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 46%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 43%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 43%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 41%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 41%

    Near vision

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

  • 41%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 39%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 37%

    Hearing sensitivity

    Tell the difference between sounds.

  • 36%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 36%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.


Activities

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

  • 69%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 63%

    Controlling equipment or machines

    Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).

  • 59%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 58%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 54%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 54%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 47%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 42%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 42%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 41%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 41%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 39%

    Documenting or recording information

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

  • 37%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 35%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 34%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 30%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 28%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 28%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 27%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 21%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging 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.

  • 100%

    Practical

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

  • 29%

    Administrative

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

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 19%

    Analytical

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

  • 14%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 67%

    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.

  • 52%

    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.

  • 43%

    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.

  • 33%

    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.

  • 24%

    Achievement

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

  • 24%

    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:
  • 98%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 98%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 94%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 89%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 87%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 85%

    Contact with people

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

  • 83%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 82%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 79%

    Dangerous equipment

    Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.

  • 78%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 76%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 76%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 75%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 73%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 73%

    Outdoors, under cover

    Work outdoors, under cover (e.g., in an open shed).

  • 70%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 69%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 64%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 64%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

  • 63%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

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, 53-7031.00 - Dredge Operators.


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