Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers slaughter and eviscerate poultry, and process, grade and package meat, poultry, fish and shellfish.
Tasks
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processing offal and tripe
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moving carcasses to chillers and freezers
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loading meat products into trucks
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packing boned and sliced meat into cartons
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stunning and shackling poultry for killing and processing
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severing jugular veins of poultry, and removing viscera and residual material from poultry carcasses
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separating organs and glands, such as sweetbreads, livers, hearts and spleens, from poultry carcasses
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inspecting and grading poultry, fish and shellfish for size and quality
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packing fish and counting packs before freezing, and packing frozen fish blocks into cartons
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operating machines which slice, peel, skin and crumb fish
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cleaning and sanitising equipment and work areas
Characteristics
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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
-
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 grow strongly
- is likely to reach 22,500 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 | 14,000 |
2012 | 21,300 |
2013 | 13,700 |
2014 | 16,600 |
2015 | 15,400 |
2016 | 22,900 |
2017 | 21,400 |
2018 | 23,600 |
2019 | 18,800 |
2020 | 14,800 |
2021 | 19,800 |
2026 | 22,500 |
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 72% of people employed as Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 6 percentage points above 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 $1,139 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,028
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,386
Median hourly earnings are $28, 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 | Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,139 | 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 Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers work in the Manufacturing 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 | Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 25.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 23.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 26.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 12.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 7.2 | 10.8 |
TAS | 4.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.2 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 63% of Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Queensland and South Australia have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
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 Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers is 37 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 28% of the workforce. This is 20 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 | Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 13.7 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 27.4 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 19.9 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 7.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.8 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 1.7 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 37 | 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 usually required to work as a Meat, Poultry or Seafood Process Worker. Some workers have a certificate I or II in meat or seafood processing.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Australian Meat Processing and Seafood Industry VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 1.7 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 5.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 4.2 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 15.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 28.2 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 8.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 36.2 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Meat, Poultry and Seafood Process Workers who are reliable physically fit and have a good work ethic.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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36%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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34%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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34%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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29%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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29%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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29%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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27%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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27%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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27%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
25%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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23%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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23%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
23%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
21%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
21%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
21%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
-
21%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
-
21%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
-
20%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
-
14%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
49%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
41%
Food productionPlanting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.
-
40%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
38%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
37%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
36%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
29%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
27%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
24%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
-
21%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
21%
BiologyPlant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.
-
20%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
18%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
18%
Therapy and counsellingDiagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.
-
18%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
18%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
14%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
13%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
13%
Medicine and dentistryDiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.
-
11%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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45%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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45%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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45%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
43%
Static strengthLift, push, pull, or carry things.
-
41%
Control precisionQuickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
41%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
-
41%
Trunk strengthUse your abdominal and lower back muscles a number of times without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
-
39%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
39%
Reaction timeQuickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
38%
Extent flexibilityBend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
-
38%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
38%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
-
38%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
36%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
36%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
34%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
-
34%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
32%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
30%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
29%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
78%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
60%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
54%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
52%
Controlling equipment or machinesOperating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
52%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
51%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
47%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
45%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
44%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
-
43%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
41%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
40%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
39%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
-
38%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
36%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
35%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
35%
Helping and caring for othersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.
-
34%
Leading and encouraging a teamEncouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
-
33%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
-
32%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of 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.
-
100%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
71%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
38%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
14%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
62%
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.
-
62%
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.
-
29%
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.
-
24%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
21%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
19%
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.
Demands
-
97%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
-
96%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
91%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
90%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
88%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
87%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
87%
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stingsBe exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
87%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
85%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
80%
Bending or twisting your bodySpend time bending or twisting your body.
-
80%
Exposure to contaminantsBe exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.
-
80%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
78%
Pace of work set by equipmentPace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
77%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
75%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
73%
Dangerous equipmentWork near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
71%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
68%
Walking and runningSpend time walking and running.
-
67%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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, 51-3023.00 - Slaughterers and Meat Packers.
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
-
Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.