Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons sell motor vehicles, boats, caravans, earthmoving equipment, vehicle accessories and parts in retail and wholesale establishments.
Tasks
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determining customer requirements and advising on product range, price, delivery, warranties and product use and care
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showing vehicles to customers and test driving vehicles with customers
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selling motor vehicles and vehicle products such as parts, tyres, lubricating oils, batteries, car stereos and alarms
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taking sales orders and preparing contracts of sale
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receiving orders for parts
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determining part sizes and details such as vehicle make, model, manufacturer and year
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searching lists of parts to identify part numbers, price and availability
Characteristics
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Practical
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Administrative
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Enterprising
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
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 in this occupation is likely to remain stable.
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 | 32,200 |
2012 | 35,700 |
2013 | 36,000 |
2014 | 25,900 |
2015 | 37,200 |
2016 | 42,800 |
2017 | 36,200 |
2018 | 33,600 |
2019 | 32,500 |
2020 | 37,100 |
2021 | 37,200 |
2026 | 38,200 |
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 88% of people employed as Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 22 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).
Median full-time earnings are $1,214 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,027
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,599
Median hourly earnings are $31, this is lower than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,214 | 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 Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons work in the Retail trade 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 | Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 29.3 | 31.6 |
VIC | 24.5 | 25.6 |
QLD | 23.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.5 | 7.0 |
WA | 10.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 1.9 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.9 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.2 | 1.9 |
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Around 47% of Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
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 Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons is 40 years. This is the same as the all jobs average.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 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)
Age Bracket | Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 2.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 11.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 24.8 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 21.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 20.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.5 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 6.2 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.3 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 40 | 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 Motor Vehicle or Vehicle Parts Salesperson. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in automotive sales or automotive parts interpreting.
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 | Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 1.4 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 5.8 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 7.4 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 30.4 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 28.5 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 8.3 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 18.2 | 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 Motor Vehicle and Vehicle Parts Salespersons who can communicate well with a variety of stakeholders, providing good customer service and who are well presented.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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55%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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46%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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45%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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45%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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45%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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43%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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43%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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43%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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43%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
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41%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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41%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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41%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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36%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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36%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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32%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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30%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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29%
Equipment selectionDeciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
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29%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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57%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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54%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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45%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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42%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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42%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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38%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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37%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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35%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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31%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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30%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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30%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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29%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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27%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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25%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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17%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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16%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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16%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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13%
Foreign languageForeign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
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11%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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57%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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57%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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55%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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52%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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48%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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46%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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45%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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43%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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43%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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41%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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41%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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41%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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41%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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41%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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41%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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39%
MultitaskingDo two or more things at the same time.
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34%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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29%
Multilimb coordinationUse your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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71%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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71%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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70%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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68%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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68%
Influencing peopleConvincing people to buy something or to change their minds or actions.
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67%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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67%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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67%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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65%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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64%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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62%
Assessing and evaluating thingsWorking out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
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62%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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60%
Negotiating and resolving conflictsHandling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.
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54%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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52%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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48%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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47%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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46%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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45%
Driving vehicles or equipmentRunning, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
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43%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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%
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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86%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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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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43%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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14%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
Values
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67%
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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52%
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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48%
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.
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43%
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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38%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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38%
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.
Demands
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100%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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99%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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99%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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90%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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90%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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86%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
86%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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86%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
86%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
85%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
83%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
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82%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
77%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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77%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
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75%
Indoors, not heat controlledWork indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
-
75%
Using your hands to handle, control, or feelSpend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
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74%
Spend time standingSpend time standing at work.
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74%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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74%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
73%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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, 41-2022.00 - Parts Salespersons.
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.