Other Factory Process Workers

ANZSCO ID 8399

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
9,200
Future Growth
6.9%
Weekly Earnings
$1,408
Full-Time Share
65%
Female Share
23%
Average age
41

Summary

Other Factory Process Workers includes a number of occupations such as Cement and Concrete Plant Workers, Chemical Plant Workers, Clay Processing Factory Workers, Fabric and Textile Factory Workers, Footwear Factory Workers, Glass Processing Workers, Hide and Skin Processing Workers and Recycling Workers.

Tasks

  • performs routine tasks in manufacturing cement and concrete products such as greasing and assembling concrete moulds, holding reinforcing steel in position during concrete pours, stripping moulds from dried concrete products, and finishing products

  • performs routine tasks in a chemical processing plant such as delivering materials to processing areas, dumping ingredients into hoppers, operating machines to heat, cool and agitate chemical solutions, filling and fastening covers on containers, and attaching labels and information on products

  • performs routine tasks in manufacturing clay and ceramic products such as loading clay into machines, stacking products on kiln cars, pallets and trolleys, and moving kiln cars and trolleys to and from kilns, dryers, sorting, storage and shipping areas

  • performs routine tasks in a fabric and textile factory such as cutting canvas, upholstery and curtain fabrics, delivering materials to machines, operating automatic machines using computerised patterns, pressing partially completed and finished garments, and inspecting and finishing completed garments

  • performs routine tasks in manufacturing footwear such as basic hand cutting of shoe components, delivering materials to machines, and inspecting and finishing completed footwear

  • performs routine tasks in manufacturing glassware such as setting up, adjusting and repairing automatic machines and equipment, and checking weight of glassware

  • performs routine tasks in tanning and finishing leather, hides and skins such as fleshing hides by cutting out pieces of flesh and fat, laying out hides and skins for classing and drying and arranging heaters to dry them, spraying dried hides with preservatives, and treating, pressing and securing hides and skins


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 moderately
  • is likely to reach 12,200 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
6.9%
(or 800 jobs)
From
11,400
in 2021
To
12,200
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 10,400
2012 7,200
2013 9,100
2014 6,400
2015 11,400
2016 8,700
2017 10,000
2018 13,200
2019 15,700
2020 13,300
2021 11,400
2026 12,200

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 68% of people employed as Other Factory Process Workers 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 41 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,408 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,120
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,864

    Median hourly earnings are $37, 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 Other Factory Process Workers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,408 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
31.8%
2
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
25.3%
3
Health Care and Social Assistance
16.9%
4
Wholesale Trade
9.7%
5
Other industries
14.9%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

29.2% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

31.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

9.9% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

8.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.5% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.6% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Other Factory Process Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 29.2 31.6
VIC 31.1 25.6
QLD 18.0 20.0
SA 9.9 7.0
WA 8.6 10.8
TAS 2.0 2.0
NT 0.5 1.0
ACT 0.6 1.9


  • Around 42% of Other Factory Process Workers 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.

    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
23%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Other Factory Process 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 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)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Other Factory Process Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 4.3 5.0
20-24 11.4 9.3
25-34 21.7 22.9
35-44 20.0 22.0
45-54 24.1 21.6
55-59 10.0 9.0
60-64 6.1 6.0
65 and Over 2.5 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

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as an Other Factory Process Worker, although some workers have undertaken training.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore 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 Other Factory Process Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 1.6 10.1
Bachelor degree 5.2 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 4.0 11.6
Certificate III/IV 14.6 21.1
Year 12 28.1 18.1
Year 11 8.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 38.6 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 Factory Process Workers who are reliable, can work independently and are hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 36%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 36%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 34%

    Monitoring

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

  • 34%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 32%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 32%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 32%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 30%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 29%

    Active listening

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

  • 29%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 29%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 29%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 27%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 27%

    Time management

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

  • 27%

    Active learning

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

  • 27%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 25%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 25%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 21%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 21%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 39%

    Production and processing

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

  • 38%

    Mechanical

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

  • 36%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 35%

    English language

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

  • 31%

    Education and training

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

  • 26%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 24%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 23%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 22%

    Chemistry

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

  • 20%

    Administration and management

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

  • 19%

    Building and construction

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

  • 18%

    Technical design

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

  • 18%

    Transportation

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

  • 17%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 17%

    Psychology

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

  • 16%

    Communications and media

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

  • 15%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 14%

    Law and government

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

  • 13%

    Physics

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

  • 10%

    Sales and marketing

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 48%

    Control precision

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

  • 48%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 46%

    Near vision

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

  • 46%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 45%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Extent flexibility

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

  • 43%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 43%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 43%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 41%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 39%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 39%

    Depth perception

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

  • 39%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 39%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 39%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 39%

    Stamina

    Exercise for a long time without getting winded or out of breath.

  • 37%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 37%

    Sorting or ordering

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


Activities

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

  • 85%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 67%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 65%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 52%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 50%

    Working with mechanical equipment

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

  • 49%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 47%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 46%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 45%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 45%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 45%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 43%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 42%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 42%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 41%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 40%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 39%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 37%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 35%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 35%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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


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.

  • 71%

    Administrative

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

  • 43%

    Analytical

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

  • 19%

    Creative

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

  • 19%

    Enterprising

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

  • 19%

    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.

  • 38%

    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.

  • 31%

    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.

  • 29%

    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.

  • 19%

    Achievement

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

  • 19%

    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:
  • 99%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 92%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 86%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 83%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 82%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 81%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 78%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 78%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 77%

    Pace of work set by equipment

    Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.

  • 77%

    Contact with people

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

  • 75%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 75%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

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

  • 74%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 71%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 70%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 70%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 69%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 69%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

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

  • 68%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 68%

    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, 51-9198.00 - Helpers--Production Workers.


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