Shearers

ANZSCO ID 3612

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
2,600
Future Growth
-3.3%
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
66%
Female Share
3%
Average age
39

Summary

Shearers remove wool and hair from sheep, goats, alpacas and other animals.

Tasks

  • selecting and preparing shearing equipment

  • catching and positioning animals for shearing

  • shearing and removing wool and hair from animals

  • identifying contaminated fibre and injured, infected and diseased animals

  • treating skin cuts

  • returning shorn animals to let-out pens for counting and checking

  • may service, maintain and repair shearing equipment

  • may shear stud animals with hand shears or special combs

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
Physical Demand
  • Medium
  • 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 decline
  • is likely to reach 4,100 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
-3.3%
(or -100 jobs)
From
4,200
in 2021
To
4,100
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 3,200
2012 3,700
2013 5,700
2014 5,500
2015 4,100
2016 3,600
2017 5,900
2018 3,700
2019 3,500
2020 3,300
2021 4,200
2026 4,100

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 64% of people employed as Shearers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is similar to the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 43 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
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
100.0%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

41.6% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

19.9% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

2.2% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

14.4% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

16.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

5.0% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

0.0% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.1% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Shearers All Jobs Average
NSW 41.6 31.6
VIC 19.9 25.6
QLD 2.2 20.0
SA 14.4 7.0
WA 16.7 10.8
TAS 5.0 2.0
NT 0.0 1.0
ACT 0.1 1.9


  • Around 97% of Shearers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia have a large share of employment relative to their 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
3%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Shearers is 39 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 3% of the workforce. This is 45 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 Shearers All Jobs Average
15-19 3.8 5.0
20-24 13.1 9.3
25-34 27.1 22.9
35-44 18.4 22.0
45-54 22.7 21.6
55-59 8.9 9.0
60-64 3.8 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 essential to work as a Shearer. Although some workers have a certificate II or III in shearing.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation & Land Management 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 Shearers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 0.0 10.1
Bachelor degree 0.9 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 1.7 11.6
Certificate III/IV 31.0 21.1
Year 12 12.4 18.1
Year 11 9.7 4.8
Year 10 and below 44.3 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 Shearers who are reliable, work well in a team and are hardworking.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 45%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 45%

    Operation and control

    Controlling equipment or systems.

  • 45%

    Operation monitoring

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

  • 43%

    Monitoring

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

  • 41%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 39%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 39%

    Quality control analysis

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

  • 37%

    Active listening

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

  • 37%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 37%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 37%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 37%

    Time management

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

  • 36%

    Equipment maintenance

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

  • 36%

    Troubleshooting

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

  • 34%

    Active learning

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

  • 34%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 34%

    Equipment selection

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

  • 34%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 34%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 32%

    Management of personnel resources

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 46%

    Administration and management

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

  • 45%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 40%

    Mechanical

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

  • 40%

    Production and processing

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

  • 38%

    Biology

    Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, how they rely on and work with each other and the environment.

  • 38%

    Food production

    Planting, growing, and harvesting food (both plant and animal), including storage and handling.

  • 36%

    Clerical

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

  • 34%

    English language

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

  • 34%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 31%

    Building and construction

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

  • 30%

    Transportation

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

  • 28%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 27%

    Engineering and technology

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

  • 27%

    Education and training

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

  • 26%

    Sales and marketing

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

  • 24%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 24%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 23%

    Law and government

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

  • 19%

    Technical design

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

  • 17%

    Economics and accounting

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


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 50%

    Multilimb coordination

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

  • 50%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 50%

    Static strength

    Lift, push, pull, or carry things.

  • 48%

    Control precision

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

  • 48%

    Near vision

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

  • 48%

    Manual dexterity

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

  • 46%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 46%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 45%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 45%

    Trunk strength

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

  • 43%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 41%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 41%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 39%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 39%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 39%

    Depth perception

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

  • 39%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 39%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 38%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 36%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.


Activities

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

  • 76%

    Handling and moving objects

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

  • 65%

    Doing physically active work

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

  • 65%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 65%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

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

  • 61%

    Controlling equipment or machines

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

  • 56%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 56%

    Checking for errors or defects

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

  • 54%

    Driving vehicles or equipment

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

  • 54%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 52%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 52%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 50%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 50%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 49%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 48%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 47%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 47%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 47%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 46%

    Guiding and directing staff

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

  • 44%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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


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%

    Practical

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

  • 33%

    Administrative

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

  • 19%

    Analytical

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

  • 19%

    Enterprising

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

  • 14%

    Creative

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

  • 14%

    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.
  • 48%

    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.

  • 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.

  • 31%

    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.

  • 29%

    Achievement

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

  • 24%

    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%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 90%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 87%

    Very hot or cold temperatures

    Work in very hot or cold temperatures.

  • 86%

    Outdoors, exposed to weather

    Work outdoors, exposed to the weather.

  • 83%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 81%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 81%

    Wear common protective or safety equipment

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

  • 78%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 78%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 78%

    Walking and running

    Spend time walking and running.

  • 77%

    Outdoors, under cover

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

  • 77%

    Indoors, not heat controlled

    Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).

  • 76%

    Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings

    Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.

  • 74%

    Loud or uncomfortable sounds

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

  • 73%

    Contact with people

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

  • 73%

    Spend time standing

    Spend time standing at work.

  • 72%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 71%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 71%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 70%

    In an open vehicle or equipment

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

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, 45-2093.00 - Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals.


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