Production Managers

ANZSCO ID 1335

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
54,800
Future Growth
13%
Weekly Earnings
$2,332
Full-Time Share
91%
Female Share
16%
Average age
45

Summary

Production Managers plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the production activities of forestry, manufacturing and mining organisations including physical and human resources.

Tasks

  • determining, implementing and monitoring production strategies, policies and plans

  • planning details of production activities in terms of output quality and quantity, cost, time available and labour requirements

  • controlling the operation of production plant and quality procedures through planning of maintenance, designation of operating hours and supply of parts and tools

  • monitoring production output and costs, and adjusting processes and resources to minimise costs

  • informing other Managers about production matters

  • overseeing the acquisition and installation of new plant and equipment

  • directing research into production methods, and recommending and implementing initiatives

  • controlling the preparation of production records and reports

  • coordinating the implementation of occupational health and safety requirements

  • directing staff activities and monitoring their performance

Characteristics

Job Type
Managers
Skill Level
Very high skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Administrative
  • Enterprising
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary
  • Light
  • Very 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 grow strongly
  • is likely to reach 84,800 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%
(or 9,800 jobs)
From
75,000
in 2021
To
84,800
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 55,400
2012 60,400
2013 54,400
2014 52,400
2015 55,300
2016 65,600
2017 50,700
2018 54,900
2019 58,300
2020 70,000
2021 75,000
2026 84,800

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 94% of people employed as Production Managers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 28 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 48 hours per week in their main job. This is 4 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    More than a third of workers regularly work overtime or extra hours (either paid or unpaid).

    Median full-time earnings are $2,332 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,978
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $3,213

    Median hourly earnings are $56, this is more 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. Overtime hours: ABS, Characteristics of Employment, 2021. 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 Production Managers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 2,332 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
61.1%
2
Mining
14.6%
3
Wholesale Trade
4.5%
4
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
4.3%
5
Other industries
15.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

28.4% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.5% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

19.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

7.5% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

13.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.9% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.5% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.5% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Production Managers All Jobs Average
NSW 28.4 31.6
VIC 28.5 25.6
QLD 19.0 20.0
SA 7.5 7.0
WA 13.7 10.8
TAS 1.9 2.0
NT 0.5 1.0
ACT 0.5 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
45
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
16%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Production Managers is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 16% of the workforce. This is 32 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 Production Managers All Jobs Average
15-19 0.1 5.0
20-24 1.6 9.3
25-34 16.3 22.9
35-44 29.0 22.0
45-54 31.5 21.6
55-59 11.4 9.0
60-64 6.3 6.0
65 and Over 3.8 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

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Production Manager. Although most workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification or a university degree.

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 Manufacturing 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 Production Managers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 8.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 17.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 14.8 11.6
Certificate III/IV 28.8 21.1
Year 12 14.5 18.1
Year 11 4.5 4.8
Year 10 and below 11.5 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 Production Managers who are reliable, organised and can communicate clearly. Employers also value leadership and planning skills.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 70%

    Monitoring

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

  • 64%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 63%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 63%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 61%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 59%

    Active listening

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

  • 59%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 59%

    Time management

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

  • 57%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 57%

    Active learning

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

  • 57%

    Management of financial resources

    Figuring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.

  • 57%

    Management of material resources

    Providing the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.

  • 55%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 55%

    Systems analysis

    Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.

  • 54%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 54%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 54%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 54%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 50%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 50%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 80%

    Production and processing

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

  • 76%

    Administration and management

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

  • 69%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 66%

    Education and training

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

  • 66%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 63%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 60%

    Mechanical

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

  • 59%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 57%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 52%

    English language

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

  • 52%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 49%

    Psychology

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

  • 43%

    Technical design

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

  • 42%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 39%

    Law and government

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

  • 38%

    Transportation

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

  • 35%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 35%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 31%

    Physics

    The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.

  • 29%

    Communications and media

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 61%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 61%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 61%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 57%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 57%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 57%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 55%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 55%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 54%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 54%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 54%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 54%

    Mathematics

    Choose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.

  • 52%

    Near vision

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

  • 52%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 50%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 48%

    Working with numbers

    Add, subtract, multiply, or divide.

  • 45%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 43%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 41%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.


Activities

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

  • 83%

    Guiding and directing staff

    Guiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.

  • 78%

    Negotiating and resolving conflicts

    Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.

  • 76%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 75%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 75%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 73%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 72%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 72%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 70%

    Managing payments and orders

    Monitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.

  • 70%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 69%

    Coaching and developing others

    Working out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.

  • 67%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 67%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 66%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 65%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 64%

    Leading and encouraging a team

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

  • 59%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 58%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 58%

    Coming up with systems and processes

    Deciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.

  • 53%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process 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%

    Enterprising

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

  • 86%

    Administrative

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

  • 48%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 38%

    Practical

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

  • 33%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 19%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 86%

    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.

  • 81%

    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.

  • 76%

    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.

  • 71%

    Achievement

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

  • 71%

    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.

  • 71%

    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.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 98%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 97%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 96%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 93%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 93%

    Contact with people

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

  • 92%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 92%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 91%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 91%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 91%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 89%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 87%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 86%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 83%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 77%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 72%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 72%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 72%

    Conflict situations

    Deal with conflict or disagreements.

  • 69%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

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, 11-3051.00 - Industrial Production Managers.


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