Primary Products Inspectors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Primary Products Inspectors inspect animals, plants and agricultural produce and facilities to ensure compliance with government and industry standards with respect to quality, health and licensing.
Tasks
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inspecting animals, plants and agricultural produce to identify product quality issues, and providing advice to producers
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auditing and monitoring quality procedures at farms and food handling and processing facilities to ensure compliance with required standards
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testing samples of produce for quality, size and purity
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ensuring that required standards of hygiene are observed at storage, processing and packing facilities and in transport vehicles
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advising primary producers on economic aspects of disease eradication and informing producers and the general public of the health implications of diseases and impurities
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advising on the identification of pests and diseases and on regulations pertaining to grading, packing and loading of products
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examining imported plants and animals, and products, such as timber, seeds and dried fruits, and making quarantine arrangements
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patrolling and investigating waterways for unlawful fishing activities and the removal of protected marine life
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educating, advising and providing information on a wide range of topics relating to fish and their protection
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may initiate or assist in legal action to enforce regulations
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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Analytical
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Administrative
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Light
-
Medium
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 decline
- is likely to reach 2,300 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 | 5,300 |
2012 | 4,900 |
2013 | 3,500 |
2014 | 3,200 |
2015 | 3,100 |
2016 | 2,800 |
2017 | 4,300 |
2018 | 3,400 |
2019 | 2,000 |
2020 | 6,400 |
2021 | 2,400 |
2026 | 2,300 |
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 81% of people employed as Primary Products Inspectors work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 15 percentage points above 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).
Median full-time earnings are $1,384 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,324
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,774
Median hourly earnings are $36, 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)
Earnings | Primary Products Inspectors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,384 | 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
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Most Primary Products Inspectors work in the Public administration and safety industry. They are also employed in industries like:
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 | Primary Products Inspectors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 24.4 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.1 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.3 | 20.0 |
SA | 10.1 | 7.0 |
WA | 16.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.4 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.9 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.5 | 1.9 |
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Around 60% of Primary Products Inspectors live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their 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 Primary Products Inspectors is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 35 to 44 years.
Females make up 31% of the workforce. This is 17 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 | Primary Products Inspectors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 3.5 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 18.1 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.4 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 24.4 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 13.2 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 8.2 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.7 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 45 | 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 Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in a related field is usually needed to work as a Primary Products Inspector.
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 Food Processing, Australian Meat Processing, Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management, Animal Care and Management, Seafood Industry and Public Sector VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Primary Products Inspectors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.3 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 25.3 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 17.9 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 28.7 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 11.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.4 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 7.4 | 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 Primary Products Inspectors who have strong interpersonal skills, are flexible and provide good customer service.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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59%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
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55%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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52%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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48%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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48%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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48%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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46%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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46%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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46%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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41%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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41%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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39%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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64%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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52%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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52%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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51%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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49%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
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49%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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49%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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48%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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48%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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47%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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47%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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40%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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37%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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33%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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33%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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32%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
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30%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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29%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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28%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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21%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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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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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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55%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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55%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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54%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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54%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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50%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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46%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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46%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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46%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
Auditory attentionPay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
43%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
Speed of recognitionQuickly make sense of and organize things you can see like letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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37%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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37%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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71%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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70%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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69%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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68%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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65%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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65%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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64%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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62%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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61%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
60%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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60%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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59%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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58%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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56%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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55%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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55%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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50%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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48%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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37%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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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95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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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%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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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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24%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
-
67%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
67%
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.
-
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.
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62%
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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60%
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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43%
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.
Demands
-
92%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
92%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
87%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
86%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
84%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
83%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
82%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
80%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
79%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
79%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
79%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
79%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
79%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
78%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
-
78%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
78%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
77%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
74%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
74%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
74%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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, 45-2011.00 - Agricultural Inspectors.
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.