Industrial Designers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Industrial Designers plan, design, develop and document industrial, commercial or consumer products for manufacture with particular emphasis on ergonomic (human) factors, marketing considerations and manufacturability, and prepare designs and specifications of products for mass or batch production.
Specialisations: Ceramic Designer, Furniture Designer, Glass Designer, Textile Designer.
A bachelor degree in industrial design, engineering or product design is usually needed to work as an Industrial Designer. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Tasks
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Determines the objectives and constraints of the design brief by consulting with clients and stakeholders.
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Undertakes product research and analyses functional, commercial, cultural and aesthetic requirements.
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Formulates design concepts for industrial, commercial and consumer products.
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Prepares sketches, diagrams, illustrations, plans, samples and models to communicate design concepts.
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Negotiates design solutions with clients, management, sales and manufacturing staff.
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Selects, specifies and recommends functional and aesthetic materials, production methods and finishes for manufacture.
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Details and documents the selected design for production.
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Prepares and commissions prototypes and samples.
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Supervises the preparation of patterns, programmes and tooling, and the manufacture process.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Creative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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, Fashion, Industrial and Jewellery Designers, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 80% of people employed as Industrial Designers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 44 hours per week in their main job. This is the same as the all jobs average.
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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Industrial Designers work in industries like:
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 | Industrial Designers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 33.8 | 31.6 |
VIC | 41.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 12.1 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 5.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.7 | 1.9 |
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Around 83% of Industrial Designers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Victoria has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Melbourne - Inner
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Sydney - City and Inner South
- Melbourne - Inner South
- Sydney - Eastern Suburbs.
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 Industrial Designers is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 35% of the workforce. This is 13 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 | Industrial Designers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 36.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 27.9 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.4 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 2.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 36 | 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 bachelor degree in industrial design, engineering or product design is usually needed to work as an Industrial Designer. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
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 Textiles, Clothing & Footwear and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Industrial Designers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 9.6 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 54.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 14.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 10.3 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.9 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.6 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Fashion, Industrial and Jewellery Designers who are creative, can self-manage and are motivated.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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63%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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61%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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61%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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61%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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59%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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55%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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54%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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54%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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54%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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52%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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52%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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52%
Technology designDesigning and improving equipment and technology.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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48%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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46%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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86%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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73%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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68%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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58%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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58%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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54%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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53%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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47%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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45%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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42%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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41%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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36%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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35%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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35%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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34%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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34%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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31%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
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27%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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19%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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15%
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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70%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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66%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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63%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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63%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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61%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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61%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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59%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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59%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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59%
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%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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57%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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57%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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55%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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52%
Colour discriminationNotice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.
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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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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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45%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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75%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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70%
Drafting, laying out, and specifying partsDetailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
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60%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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59%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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59%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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58%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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58%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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54%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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53%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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50%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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50%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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47%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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47%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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45%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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44%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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43%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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43%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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39%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
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38%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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35%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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67%
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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57%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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29%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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29%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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24%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
Values
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71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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71%
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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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.
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67%
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.
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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.
Demands
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100%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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96%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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95%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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91%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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87%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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87%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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86%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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85%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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82%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
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82%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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80%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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79%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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78%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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78%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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75%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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74%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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72%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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71%
Loud or uncomfortable soundsBe exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
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68%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
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67%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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, 27-1021.00 - Commercial and Industrial Designers.
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.