Real Estate Sales Agents
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Real Estate Sales Agents sell, lease and manage commercial and private properties, and broker the buying and selling of businesses.
Tasks
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accepting and listing properties and businesses for sale and lease, conducting inspections, and advising buyers on the merits of properties and businesses and the terms of sale or lease
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advising vendors of sales and marketing options such as sale by auction and open house inspections
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cataloguing and detailing land, buildings and businesses for sale or lease and arranging advertising
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assessing buyers' needs and locating properties and businesses for their consideration
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offering valuations and advice for buying and selling properties and businesses, and structuring the terms of settlement
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collecting and holding rent monies from tenants, and remitting to owner on agreed basis
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monitoring and addressing non-compliance with terms and conditions of tenancy and pursuing rental arrears
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developing and implementing business plans, budgets, policies and procedures for the agency
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may arrange finance, land brokerage, conveyancing and maintenance of premises
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Administrative
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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. 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 119,800 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.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 77,200 |
2012 | 76,600 |
2013 | 75,500 |
2014 | 88,700 |
2015 | 89,500 |
2016 | 91,200 |
2017 | 110,600 |
2018 | 91,000 |
2019 | 97,500 |
2020 | 89,100 |
2021 | 109,500 |
2026 | 119,800 |
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
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Around 80% of people employed as Real Estate Sales Agents 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 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to 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 $1,250 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,019
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,538
Median hourly earnings are $32, 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. 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)
Earnings | Real Estate Sales Agents | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,250 | 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 Real Estate Sales Agents work in the Rental, hiring and real estate services 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 | Real Estate Sales Agents | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 32.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 22.8 | 25.6 |
QLD | 25.2 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.3 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.5 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.5 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.7 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 63% of Real Estate Sales Agents live in capital cities, similar to the all jobs average of 62%.
Queensland has a large share of employment relative to its 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 Real Estate Sales Agents is 44 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 50% of the workforce. This is similar to 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 | Real Estate Sales Agents | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 22.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.0 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 22.2 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 9.7 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.4 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 8.9 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 44 | 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 Real Estate Sales Agent. Although some workers have a certificate III or IV in real estate practice or property services.
Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Retail Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Real Estate Sales Agents | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 19.2 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 20.1 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 22.8 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 19.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 3.6 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 7.8 | 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 Real Estate Sales Agents who have strong interpersonal skills, communicate well, provide good customer service and are well presented.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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57%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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57%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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55%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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50%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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50%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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48%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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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%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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48%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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45%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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45%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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45%
Management of financial resourcesFiguring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.
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45%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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43%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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39%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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78%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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74%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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73%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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69%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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63%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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61%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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60%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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54%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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54%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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53%
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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52%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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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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45%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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42%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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40%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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31%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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30%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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29%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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24%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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61%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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59%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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59%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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59%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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54%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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52%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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48%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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46%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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45%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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45%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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43%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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41%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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39%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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37%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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37%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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34%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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80%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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75%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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73%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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72%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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72%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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69%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
68%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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67%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
66%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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63%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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63%
Providing office supportDoing day-to-day office work such as filing and processing paperwork.
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62%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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60%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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58%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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58%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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58%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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54%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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54%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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52%
Checking for errors or defectsInspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
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%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
81%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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52%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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43%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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19%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
14%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
Values
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81%
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.
-
71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
69%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
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.
-
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.
-
52%
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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100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
97%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
95%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
90%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
88%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
85%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
85%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
85%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
82%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
81%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
79%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
78%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
78%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
75%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
74%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
73%
Conflict situationsDeal with conflict or disagreements.
-
69%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
68%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
66%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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, 11-9141.00 - Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers.
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.