Panelbeaters

ANZSCO ID 3241

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
10,900
Future Growth
10.6%
Weekly Earnings
$1,520
Full-Time Share
84%
Female Share
2%
Average age
41

Summary

Panelbeaters repair damage to metal, fibreglass and plastic body work on vehicles, and form replacement vehicle panels.

Also known as: Collision Repairer.

A certificate III or IV in automotive body repair technology or another relevant panel beating course is usually needed to work as a Panelbeater. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Tasks

  • removing damaged panels and parts, and removing upholstery and accessories to gain access

  • removing dents by hammering panels

  • straightening damaged vehicles and parts using mechanical and hydraulic equipment

  • replacing badly damaged sections with new or second-hand panels

  • filling depressions with plastic filler, and filing, grinding and sanding repaired surfaces

  • cutting and joining replacement sections using welding equipment

  • fitting repaired or replacement panels on vehicles and refitting body hardware such as door locks and trims

  • may assist vehicle body builders in constructing and restoring custom-designed, vintage and other specialty vehicles

  • may spray-paint vehicles

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)
Interests
  • Practical
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • Heavy

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 strongly
  • is likely to reach 10,900 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
10.6%
(or 1,000 jobs)
From
9,900
in 2021
To
10,900
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 13,600
2012 13,400
2013 24,000
2014 14,900
2015 13,300
2016 17,900
2017 15,700
2018 12,500
2019 9,800
2020 11,500
2021 9,900
2026 10,900

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 89% of people employed as Panelbeaters work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 23 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).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,520 per week, this is lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,284
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,659

    Median hourly earnings are $38, this is similar to 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 Panelbeaters All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,520 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
Other Services
99.2%
2
Manufacturing
0.8%
3
Retail Trade
0.8%
  • Most Panelbeaters work in the Other services industry.

    Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.


Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

32.9% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

27.3% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.4% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

8.1% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.7% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Panelbeaters All Jobs Average
NSW 32.9 31.6
VIC 27.3 25.6
QLD 18.4 20.0
SA 8.1 7.0
WA 9.6 10.8
TAS 2.0 2.0
NT 0.7 1.0
ACT 1.1 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
41
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
2%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Panelbeaters 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 2% of the workforce. This is 46 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 Panelbeaters All Jobs Average
15-19 5.3 5.0
20-24 10.4 9.3
25-34 20.0 22.9
35-44 22.3 22.0
45-54 23.1 21.6
55-59 9.3 9.0
60-64 6.1 6.0
65 and Over 3.4 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

A certificate III or IV in automotive body repair technology or another relevant panel beating course is usually needed to work as a Panelbeater. These courses are often completed as part of an apprenticeship.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Automotive Retail, Service and Repair and Automotive Manufacturing Sector 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 Panelbeaters All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 0.8 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 1.6 11.6
Certificate III/IV 78.9 21.1
Year 12 6.3 18.1
Year 11 2.7 4.8
Year 10 and below 9.6 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 Panelbeaters who are reliable, trustworthy and responsible.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 46%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 43%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 41%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 39%

    Monitoring

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

  • 39%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Active listening

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

  • 37%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 37%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 37%

    Time management

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

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 37%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 37%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 36%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Active learning

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

  • 34%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 27%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 62%

    Mechanical

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

  • 49%

    Chemistry

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

  • 42%

    English language

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

  • 42%

    Production and processing

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

  • 40%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 38%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 36%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 35%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 35%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 30%

    Education and training

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

  • 30%

    Technical design

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

  • 28%

    Transportation

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

  • 26%

    Administration and management

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

  • 18%

    Law and government

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

  • 18%

    Physics

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

  • 17%

    Clerical

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

  • 16%

    Communications and media

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

  • 16%

    Psychology

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

  • 13%

    Therapy and counselling

    Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.

  • 11%

    Telecommunications

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 54%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 54%

    Visualization

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

  • 52%

    Near vision

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

  • 52%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 52%

    Extent flexibility

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

  • 48%

    Control precision

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

  • 48%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 48%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 48%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 45%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 45%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 41%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 39%

    Depth perception

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

  • 37%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.


Activities

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

  • 63%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 56%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 56%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 52%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 46%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 44%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

  • 44%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 44%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 41%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 40%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 39%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 39%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 38%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 36%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 36%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 34%

    Scheduling work and activities

    Working out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

  • 34%

    Working with mechanical equipment

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

  • 33%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 32%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 31%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish 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.

  • 33%

    Administrative

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

  • 33%

    Enterprising

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

  • 24%

    Analytical

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

  • 24%

    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.

  • 62%

    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.

  • 57%

    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.

  • 50%

    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.

  • 38%

    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:
  • 96%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 94%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 91%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 90%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 84%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 83%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 83%

    Dangerous conditions

    Work near dangers like high voltage electricity, flammable material, explosives or chemicals.

  • 80%

    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%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 75%

    Wear specialized protective or safety equipment

    Wear equipment like breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection.

  • 75%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 74%

    Contact with people

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

  • 74%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 74%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 72%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 69%

    Kneeling, crouching, stooping, or crawling

    Spend time kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling.

  • 69%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 66%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

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

  • 64%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

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, 49-3021.00 - Automotive Body and Related Repairers.


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