Recycling Workers

ANZSCO ID 839918

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,200
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
59%
Female Share
15%
Average age
39

Summary

Recycling Workers perform routine tasks in recycling facilities, such as sorting, packing and storing plastics, glass, paper, metals and other recyclable materials which have been collected from household, commercial and industrial premises in preparation for use in creating new products.

Also known as: Recycling Sorter.

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Recycling Worker.

Tasks

  • Dismantles products (such as cars and appliances) and separates their components.

  • Identifies and removes hazardous substances (including chemicals from discarded appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators).

  • Sorts materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for cleaning, recycling, processing, storing, shipping or grading.

  • Cleans materials (such as metals) according to recycling requirements and prepares them for production (such as cutting in preparation for fabrication or processing).

  • Operates equipment, such as forklifts, automated refuse and manual recycling collection vehicles, to move materials for processing.

  • Deposits recoverable materials into chutes or places materials on conveyor belts.

  • Maintains a clean work area to ensure workplace safety.

  • Cleans, disassembles, repairs and maintains the recycling equipment so that it works properly.

  • Cuts discarded products (such as appliances and automobiles) into small pieces using saws, blow torches and other hand or power tools, for easier disposal.

  • May collect recyclable materials from curb sides for delivery to designated facilities.


Outlook

Employment 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, Other Factory Process Workers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 59% of people employed as Recycling Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 7 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 42 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
42.2%
2
Wholesale Trade
12.3%
3
Health Care and Social Assistance
10.2%
4
Manufacturing
4.9%
5
Other industries
13.8%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

33.1% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

22.4% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

16.2% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

14.8% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.0% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

2.9% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.6% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.0% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Recycling Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 33.1 31.6
VIC 22.4 25.6
QLD 16.2 20.0
SA 14.8 7.0
WA 9.0 10.8
TAS 2.9 2.0
NT 0.6 1.0
ACT 1.0 1.9


  • Around 51% of Recycling Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    South Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.

    The regions with the largest share of workers are:

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
39
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
15%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Recycling Workers is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

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

    Females make up 15% of the workforce. This is 33 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 Recycling Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 6.5 5.0
20-24 13.6 9.3
25-34 21.1 22.9
35-44 19.6 22.0
45-54 22.4 21.6
55-59 8.7 9.0
60-64 5.9 6.0
65 and Over 2.3 4.2
Median Age 39 40

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


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not usually required to work as a Recycling Worker.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore 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 Recycling Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.8 10.1
Bachelor degree 2.5 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 3.8 11.6
Certificate III/IV 14.0 21.1
Year 12 25.2 18.1
Year 11 9.3 4.8
Year 10 and below 44.4 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 Factory Process Workers who are reliable, can work independently and are hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 41%

    Active listening

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

  • 41%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 39%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 39%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 39%

    Monitoring

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

  • 39%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 37%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 37%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 36%

    Time management

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

  • 36%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 34%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 34%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 32%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 32%

    Active learning

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

  • 32%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 30%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 30%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 29%

    Management of personnel resources

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

  • 27%

    Equipment selection

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 68%

    Production and processing

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

  • 57%

    Mechanical

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

  • 55%

    Education and training

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

  • 52%

    English language

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

  • 51%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 50%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 44%

    Administration and management

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

  • 43%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 39%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 38%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 37%

    Clerical

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

  • 33%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 33%

    Psychology

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

  • 31%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 31%

    Transportation

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

  • 29%

    Physics

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

  • 27%

    Building and construction

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

  • 26%

    Law and government

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

  • 25%

    Telecommunications

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

  • 19%

    Communications and media

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 54%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 52%

    Control precision

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

  • 48%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 48%

    Near vision

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

  • 46%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 46%

    Reaction time

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

  • 45%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 43%

    Depth perception

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

  • 41%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 41%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 41%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 41%

    Rate control

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

  • 41%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Speed of limb movement

    Quickly move the arms and legs.

  • 39%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 39%

    Perceptual speed

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

  • 39%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 37%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.


Activities

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

  • 74%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 63%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 63%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 59%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 56%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 55%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 53%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 53%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 52%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 52%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 50%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 48%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 48%

    Coordinating the work of a team

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

  • 47%

    Guiding and directing staff

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

  • 45%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 45%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 44%

    Coaching and developing others

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

  • 43%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 42%

    Leading and encouraging a team

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

  • 42%

    Documenting or recording information

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


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.

  • 95%

    Administrative

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

  • 95%

    Practical

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

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 19%

    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.

  • 19%

    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.
  • 52%

    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.

  • 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.

  • 38%

    Achievement

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

  • 33%

    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.

  • 33%

    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:
  • 97%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 89%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 87%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 86%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 85%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

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

  • 80%

    Contact with people

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

  • 80%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 79%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 76%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 74%

    Outdoors, under cover

    Work outdoors, under cover (e.g., in an open shed).

  • 73%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 73%

    In an open vehicle or equipment

    Work in an open vehicle (e.g., a tractor).

  • 72%

    Health and safety of others

    Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.

  • 72%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 72%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 71%

    Bending or twisting your body

    Spend time bending or twisting your body.

  • 71%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 71%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 70%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 70%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

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, 51-9199.01 - Recycling and Reclamation Workers.


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