Optometrists and Orthoptists
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Optometrists and Orthoptists perform eye examinations and vision tests, prescribe lenses, other optical aids and therapy, and diagnose and manage eye movement disorders and associated sensory problems.
Tasks
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examining patients' eyes and setting tests to determine the nature and extent of vision problems and abnormalities
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assessing ocular health and visual function by measuring visual acuity and refractive error, and testing the function of visual pathways, visual fields, eye movements, freedom of vision and intraocular pressure, and performing other tests using special eye test equipment
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detecting, diagnosing and managing eye disease, referring patients to, and receiving referrals from other health providers, and prescribing medications for the treatment of eye disease
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diagnosing eye movement disorders and defects of binocular function
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prescribing lenses, contact lenses and low vision aids, and checking suitability and comfort
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prescribing exercises to coordinate movement and focusing of eyes
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managing programs for eye movement disorders, and instructing and counselling patients in the use of corrective techniques and eye exercises
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advising on visual health matters such as contact lens care, vision care for the elderly, optics, visual ergonomics, and occupational and industrial eye safety
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conducting preventative screening programs
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conducting rehabilitation programs for the visually impaired
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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 11,400 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.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 4,900 |
2012 | 4,300 |
2013 | 4,500 |
2014 | 5,100 |
2015 | 7,100 |
2016 | 5,100 |
2017 | 5,700 |
2018 | 6,500 |
2019 | 7,900 |
2020 | 7,600 |
2021 | 9,900 |
2026 | 11,400 |
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
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Around 64% of people employed as Optometrists and Orthoptists work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 42 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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Most Optometrists and Orthoptists work in the Health care and social assistance industry.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Optometrists and Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 36.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 27.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 19.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.0 | 7.0 |
WA | 7.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.7 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.5 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 73% of Optometrists and Orthoptists live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
New South Wales has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
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 Optometrists and Orthoptists 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 58% of the workforce. This is 10 percentage points above 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 | Optometrists and Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 6.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 30.2 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.3 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 21.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.6 | 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
A bachelor degree in vision science, clinical optometry or another related field is needed to work as an Optometrist or Orthoptist. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency or the Australian Orthoptic Board is required.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Optometrists and Orthoptists | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 23.2 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 69.4 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 5.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 0.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 1.8 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.1 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.2 | 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 Optometrists and Orthoptists who are caring and empathetic and can work well in a team, with the ability to communicate with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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68%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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63%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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63%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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59%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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55%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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55%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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52%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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52%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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50%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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46%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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45%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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45%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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43%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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41%
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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77%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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70%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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67%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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64%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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58%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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58%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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58%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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57%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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57%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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56%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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54%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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53%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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49%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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48%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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47%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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41%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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39%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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35%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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33%
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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73%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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73%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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71%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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66%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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64%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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64%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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61%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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59%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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59%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
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59%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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48%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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45%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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43%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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78%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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77%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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75%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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73%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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71%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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70%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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68%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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67%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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65%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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64%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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64%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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63%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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60%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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60%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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58%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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58%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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55%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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55%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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53%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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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86%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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76%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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71%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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48%
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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38%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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88%
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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86%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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86%
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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86%
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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81%
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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67%
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.
Demands
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98%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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94%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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94%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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93%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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93%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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92%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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92%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
90%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
90%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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88%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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87%
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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82%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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82%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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80%
Disease or infectionBe exposed to disease or infections.
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80%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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77%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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73%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
71%
CompetitionCompete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.
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71%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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, 29-1041.00 - Optometrists.
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.