Police Officers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Police Officers maintain public order, and enforce laws by investigating crimes, patrolling public areas and arresting suspected offenders.
Specialisations: Bomb Squad Officer, Mounted Police Officer, Search and Rescue Officer, Tactical Response Group Officer.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and State and Territory Police forces have varying requirements to become a Police Officer.
Tasks
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Investigates and prosecutes offences.
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Secures and examines crime and accident scenes to obtain evidence.
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Protects witnesses and investigates corruption.
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Maintains public order and safety.
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Patrols assigned areas to prevent public disturbance and crime.
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Investigates accidents, crimes, minor offences and citizens' complaints, gathering evidence, and pursuing, arresting and interviewing suspected offenders.
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Tests drivers suspected of using alcohol/other drugs and issues infringement notices for traffic offences.
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Directs and re-routes traffic at congested areas.
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Attends meetings and answers inquiries.
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Provides advice and assistance to crime victims and their families.
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Keeps records and prepares reports.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
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Heavy
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Police, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 93% of people employed as Police Officers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 27 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).
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 Police Officers work in the Public administration and safety industry.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Police Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 28.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.6 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 8.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 11.0 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 2.4 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.3 | 1.9 |
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Around 44% of Police Officers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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
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The median age of Police Officers is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 27% of the workforce. This is 21 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)
Age Bracket | Police Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.2 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 27.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 33.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 27.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 6.0 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 1.2 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 0.3 | 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
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and State and Territory Police forces have varying requirements to become a Police Officer.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Public Safety VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Police Officers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 21.6 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 43.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.9 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 15.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 2.2 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.9 | 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 Police who are caring, compassionate, empathetic and can communicate clearly with a diverse range of people.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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55%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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55%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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55%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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48%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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45%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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45%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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41%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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34%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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34%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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86%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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78%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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76%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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75%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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73%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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65%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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60%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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55%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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53%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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52%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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51%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
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47%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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47%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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45%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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43%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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36%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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31%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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31%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
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24%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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22%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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57%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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57%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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57%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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57%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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57%
Reaction timeQuickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
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55%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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55%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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55%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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54%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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52%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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52%
Response orientationQuickly choose the right movement of the hand, foot, or other body part when there are two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).
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46%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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43%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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43%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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43%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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87%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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86%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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86%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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85%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
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79%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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79%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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76%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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74%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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73%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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72%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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72%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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72%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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71%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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69%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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68%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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64%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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58%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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55%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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52%
Explaining things to peopleHelping 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.
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81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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76%
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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62%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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57%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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81%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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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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81%
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%
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.
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71%
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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67%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
Demands
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100%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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99%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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98%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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98%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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97%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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96%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
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95%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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93%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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93%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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92%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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91%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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90%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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89%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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89%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
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83%
Bright or inadequate lightingWork in extremely bright or dark lighting conditions.
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83%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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83%
Physically aggressive peopleDeal with physically aggressive or violent people.
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83%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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82%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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79%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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, 33-3051.01 - Police Patrol Officers.
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.