Sheetmetal Trades Workers

ANZSCO ID 3222

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
4,100
Future Growth
20.3%
Weekly Earnings
$1,229
Full-Time Share
90%
Female Share
1%
Average age
41

Summary

Sheetmetal Trades Workers mark out, shape, form and join sheetmetal and other materials to make products and components.

Specialisations: Metal Spinner, Sheetmetal Patternmaker.

Extensive experience or a certificate III in engineering - fabrication trade is needed to work as a Sheetmetal Trades Worker.

Tasks

  • studying blueprints, drawings and specifications to determine job, material and equipment requirements

  • selecting metal stock, such as stainless steel, galvanised iron, mild steel, aluminium and copper, and checking sizes, gauges and other dimensions of metal stock against specifications

  • marking out metal stock with reference points and lines, using templates, gauges and other measuring instruments

  • cutting metal stock along guidelines using hand and power shears, guillotines and drills

  • shaping and forming cut metal stock into products using folding and bending machines, rollers, presses and hammers

  • fitting and assembling components into final products by welding, riveting, soldering, brazing and otherwise joining

  • finishing products by polishing, filing, sanding and cleaning assembled products

  • may repair damaged sheetmetal products and components

  • may specialise in fabrication, or on-site assembly and installation, of sheetmetal products

  • may produce aircraft sheet metal components requiring advanced drawing and calculating skills

  • may specialise in decorative copperwork

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
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 grow very strongly
  • is likely to reach 4,400 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
20.3%
(or 700 jobs)
From
3,600
in 2021
To
4,400
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 9,500
2012 8,300
2013 8,700
2014 9,900
2015 5,800
2016 8,100
2017 5,600
2018 7,600
2019 5,600
2020 6,400
2021 3,600
2026 4,400

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 92% of people employed as Sheetmetal Trades Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 26 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 $1,229 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,196
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,510

    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)

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 Sheetmetal Trades Workers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,229 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
Manufacturing
86.8%
2
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
5.7%
3
Construction
5.7%
4
Wholesale Trade
3.8%
5
Other industries
1.9%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

26.1% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

22.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

27.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.3% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

13.1% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.5% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.9% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.8% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Sheetmetal Trades Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 26.1 31.6
VIC 22.3 25.6
QLD 27.0 20.0
SA 7.3 7.0
WA 13.1 10.8
TAS 2.5 2.0
NT 0.9 1.0
ACT 0.8 1.9


  • Around 46% of Sheetmetal Trades Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Queensland has a large share of employment relative to its 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

Age In Years
41
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
1%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Sheetmetal Trades Workers is 41 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 1% of the workforce. This is 47 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 Sheetmetal Trades Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 4.6 5.0
20-24 11.9 9.3
25-34 21.6 22.9
35-44 21.3 22.0
45-54 22.6 21.6
55-59 9.1 9.0
60-64 5.9 6.0
65 and Over 3.1 4.2
Median Age 41 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

Extensive experience or a certificate III in engineering - fabrication trade is needed to work as a Sheetmetal Trades Worker.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering 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 Sheetmetal Trades Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 1.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.2 11.6
Certificate III/IV 70.4 21.1
Year 12 9.5 18.1
Year 11 4.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 11.8 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 Sheetmetal Trades Workers who are mature, reliable and are hard working with a good a work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 46%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 46%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 46%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 43%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 43%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 41%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 41%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 41%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 41%

    Time management

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

  • 39%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 39%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 37%

    Active listening

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

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 37%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 34%

    Active learning

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

  • 29%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 60%

    Mechanical

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

  • 56%

    Building and construction

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

  • 50%

    Technical design

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

  • 48%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 43%

    Production and processing

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

  • 42%

    Administration and management

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

  • 40%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 38%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 38%

    English language

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

  • 38%

    Education and training

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

  • 31%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 27%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 26%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 25%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 25%

    Clerical

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

  • 25%

    Physics

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

  • 19%

    Transportation

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

  • 19%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 15%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 13%

    Economics and accounting

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Visualization

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

  • 48%

    Near vision

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

  • 48%

    Control precision

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

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Trunk strength

    Use your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

  • 46%

    Auditory attention

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

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 45%

    Extent flexibility

    Bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

  • 45%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 43%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 43%

    Depth perception

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

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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


Activities

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

  • 80%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 76%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 63%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 61%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 59%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 58%

    Drafting, laying out, and specifying parts

    Detailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

  • 57%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 56%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 56%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 54%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 54%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 53%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 52%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 51%

    Guiding and directing staff

    Guiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.

  • 48%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 46%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 44%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 43%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 43%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 38%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.


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%

    Creative

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

    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.
  • 71%

    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%

    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.

  • 48%

    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.

  • 45%

    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.

  • 43%

    Achievement

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

  • 33%

    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:
  • 97%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 95%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 94%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 93%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 91%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 88%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 87%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 86%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 86%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 86%

    Contact with people

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

  • 81%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 79%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 79%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 77%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 77%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 76%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 75%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

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

  • 75%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 74%

    Climbing ladders, scaffolds, or poles

    Spend time climbing ladders, scaffolds, or poles.

  • 74%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

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, 47-2211.00 - Sheet Metal Workers.


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