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Timber and Wood Process Workers

ANZSCO ID 8394

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Overview

Snapshot

Employed
6,200
Future Growth
-13.2%
Weekly Earnings
$1,116
Full-Time Share
78%
Female Share
8%
Average age
38
About this data

Summary

Timber and Wood Process Workers perform routine tasks in paper and pulp mills, sawmills, timber yards, and wood processing and timber products factories.

Tasks

  • rolling logs from trucks and conveyors to log decks, saw carriages and stacking bays

  • placing logs and wood billets onto conveyors and lathes for processing into chips, veneers and pulp

  • sorting and stacking timber during milling

  • placing timber for processing by machines and unloading cut timber from tail end of machines

  • assisting with setting up and operating plant and ancillary equipment used in the manufacture of sheets and boards

  • transporting processed wood products, such as plywood, chipboard sheets and panels, to work areas

  • clearing blockages in machines

  • assisting with measuring and cutting materials

  • packing and loading finished products for transportation

  • cleaning work areas, tools and equipment

Characteristics

Job Type
Labourers
Skill Level
Entry level
ANZSCO Occupation group
8394 Timber and Wood Process Workers This occupation is Current selected
Unemployment Rate
Above average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Administrative
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 decline
  • is likely to reach 4,800 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
-13.2%
(or -700 jobs)
From
5,500
in 2021
To
4,800
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 8,500
2012 6,000
2013 6,100
2014 6,500
2015 5,000
2016 2,400
2017 4,600
2018 4,600
2019 7,500
2020 5,000
2021 5,500
2026 4,800

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 79% of people employed as Timber and Wood Process Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 13 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 $1,116 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $971
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,276

    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)

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 Timber and Wood Process Workers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,116 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.

Industries

Main industries

1
Manufacturing
70.7%
2
Wholesale Trade
12.2%
3
Construction
9.8%
4
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services
4.9%
5
Other industries
2.4%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

26.4% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

30.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.9% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

10.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

7.8% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

5.4% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.3% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.4% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Timber and Wood Process Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 26.4 31.6
VIC 30.1 25.6
QLD 18.9 20.0
SA 10.6 7.0
WA 7.8 10.8
TAS 5.4 2.0
NT 0.3 1.0
ACT 0.4 1.9


  • Around 68% of Timber and Wood Process Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania 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

Age In Years
38
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
8%
All Jobs Average is 48%

  • The median age of Timber and Wood Process Workers is 38 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 8% of the workforce. This is 40 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 Timber and Wood Process Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 6.3 5.0
20-24 16.2 9.3
25-34 21.7 22.9
35-44 17.1 22.0
45-54 21.0 21.6
55-59 9.8 9.0
60-64 5.6 6.0
65 and Over 2.3 4.2
Median Age 38 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.

Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Timber or Wood Process Worker, although some workers have undertaken training.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Forest and Wood Products Industry 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 Timber and Wood Process Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.5 10.1
Bachelor degree 2.4 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 2.5 11.6
Certificate III/IV 18.1 21.1
Year 12 26.5 18.1
Year 11 10.3 4.8
Year 10 and below 39.7 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 Timber and Wood Process Workers who work well in a team, with a strong work ethic and are polite and courteous.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 41%

    Monitoring

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

  • 41%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 37%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 37%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 36%

    Active listening

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

  • 36%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 36%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 34%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 34%

    Time management

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

  • 32%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 32%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 30%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 30%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 29%

    Active learning

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

  • 27%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 27%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 48%

    Mechanical

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

  • 40%

    Production and processing

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

  • 28%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 26%

    Building and construction

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

  • 26%

    Education and training

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

  • 25%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 25%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 23%

    Technical design

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

  • 23%

    English language

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

  • 18%

    Psychology

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

  • 17%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 15%

    Transportation

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

  • 14%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 13%

    Administration and management

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

  • 9%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 7%

    Communications and media

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

  • 7%

    Chemistry

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

  • 7%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 7%

    Law and government

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

  • 6%

    Medicine and dentistry

    Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.

Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 50%

    Control precision

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

  • 46%

    Reaction time

    Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.

  • 45%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 45%

    Near vision

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

  • 45%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 43%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 43%

    Depth perception

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

  • 43%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 43%

    Stamina

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

  • 41%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 41%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 41%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 41%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 39%

    Rate control

    Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.

  • 39%

    Auditory attention

    Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.

  • 39%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 37%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

Activities

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

  • 83%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 70%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 55%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 49%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 49%

    Working with mechanical equipment

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

  • 49%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 47%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 44%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 43%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 43%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 39%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 37%

    Training and teaching others

    Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.

  • 36%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 35%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 34%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

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

  • 34%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 34%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 31%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 27%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

  • 26%

    Checking compliance with standards

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

Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 71%

    Administrative

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

  • 48%

    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%

    Enterprising

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

  • 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.

  • 76%

    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.

  • 48%

    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.

  • 43%

    Achievement

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

  • 43%

    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.

  • 43%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 29%

    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:

  • 100%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 98%

    Dangerous equipment

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

  • 95%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 94%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 92%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 90%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

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

  • 90%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 89%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 86%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 84%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 84%

    Pace of work set by equipment

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

  • 84%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 81%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 79%

    Contact with people

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

  • 77%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 75%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 75%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 74%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 72%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 71%

    Responsible for outcomes

    Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 51-7041.00 - Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood.

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