Social Professionals

ANZSCO ID 2724

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
13,000
Future Growth
18.9%
Weekly Earnings
$1,634
Full-Time Share
40%
Female Share
64%
Average age
46

Summary

Social Professionals research and study human behaviour, society and institutions from current and historical perspectives, and verbally render spoken statements, and transcribe text and recorded spoken material from one language into another.

Tasks

  • assembling historical data by consulting sources of information such as historical indexes and catalogues, archives, court records, diaries, newspaper files and other materials

  • organising, authenticating, evaluating and interpreting historical, political, sociological, anthropological and linguistic data

  • undertaking historical and cultural research into human activity, and preparing and presenting research findings

  • providing simultaneous and consecutive verbal or signed renditions of speeches into another language

  • rendering the meaning and feeling of what is said and signed into another language in the appropriate register and style in a range of settings such as courts, hospitals, schools, workplaces and conferences

  • studying original texts and transcripts of recorded spoken material to comprehend subject matter and translating them into another language

  • rendering the meaning and feeling of written material, such as literary, legal, technical and scientific texts, into another language in the appropriate register and style, so that it will read as an original piece rather than as a translation

Characteristics

Job Type
Professionals
Skill Level
Very high skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Interests
  • Analytical
  • Creative
  • Helping
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary

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 very strongly
  • is likely to reach 17,000 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
18.9%
(or 2,700 jobs)
From
14,300
in 2021
To
17,000
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 8,100
2012 9,700
2013 10,700
2014 11,900
2015 10,100
2016 11,000
2017 11,900
2018 11,900
2019 14,700
2020 15,800
2021 14,300
2026 17,000

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 39% of people employed as Social Professionals work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 27 percentage points below 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).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,634 per week, this is higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,548
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $2,044

    Median hourly earnings are $43, this is similar to 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)

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 Social Professionals All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,634 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
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
47.2%
2
Education and Training
22.0%
3
Public Administration and Safety
11.0%
4
Mining
4.7%
5
Other industries
15.0%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

31.5% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

30.1% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

15.6% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.9% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

9.0% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.7% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.8% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

3.3% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Social Professionals All Jobs Average
NSW 31.5 31.6
VIC 30.1 25.6
QLD 15.6 20.0
SA 6.9 7.0
WA 9.0 10.8
TAS 1.7 2.0
NT 1.8 1.0
ACT 3.3 1.9


  • Around 79% of Social Professionals live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.

    Victoria 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

Age In Years
46
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
64%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Social Professionals is 46 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 64% of the workforce. This is 16 percentage points above 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 Social Professionals All Jobs Average
15-19 2.2 5.0
20-24 4.3 9.3
25-34 18.2 22.9
35-44 21.1 22.0
45-54 21.7 21.6
55-59 11.0 9.0
60-64 9.1 6.0
65 and Over 12.4 4.2
Median Age 46 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

A bachelor degree in a related field is usually needed to work as a Social Professional. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.

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 Community Services 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 Social Professionals All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 35.6 10.1
Bachelor degree 32.4 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 13.8 11.6
Certificate III/IV 4.5 21.1
Year 12 9.5 18.1
Year 11 1.0 4.8
Year 10 and below 3.1 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 Social Professionals who have good leadership and planning skills, with a strong ability to communicate.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 70%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 68%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 66%

    Active listening

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

  • 64%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 61%

    Critical thinking

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

  • 61%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 59%

    Active learning

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

  • 57%

    Learning strategies

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

  • 55%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 55%

    Monitoring

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

  • 54%

    Judgment and decision making

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

  • 54%

    Complex problem solving

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

  • 52%

    Science

    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

  • 52%

    Systems analysis

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

  • 45%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 45%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 45%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 43%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 43%

    Systems evaluation

    Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.

  • 43%

    Time management

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


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 95%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 84%

    Education and training

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

  • 79%

    English language

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

  • 69%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 68%

    Philosophy and theology

    Philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.

  • 63%

    History and archeology

    Events of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.

  • 58%

    Computers and electronics

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

  • 56%

    Communications and media

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

  • 56%

    Administration and management

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

  • 55%

    Clerical

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

  • 55%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 55%

    Psychology

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

  • 52%

    Law and government

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

  • 50%

    Personnel and human resources

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

  • 38%

    Customer and personal service

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

  • 35%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 23%

    Economics and accounting

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

  • 21%

    Therapy and counselling

    Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.

  • 19%

    Public safety and security

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

  • 12%

    Fine arts

    Compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 71%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 71%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 70%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 66%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 66%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 61%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 59%

    Inductive reasoning

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

  • 55%

    Originality

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

  • 55%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 54%

    Problem spotting

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

  • 52%

    Brainstorming

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

  • 52%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 50%

    Near vision

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

  • 50%

    Mathematics

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

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

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

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

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

  • 39%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 37%

    Memorization

    Remember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

  • 30%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 30%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.


Activities

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

  • 90%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 88%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 86%

    Collecting and organising information

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

  • 84%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

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

  • 84%

    Thinking creatively

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

  • 84%

    Training and teaching others

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

  • 82%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 79%

    Looking for changes over time

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

  • 75%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 75%

    Planning and prioritising work

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

  • 72%

    Documenting or recording information

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

  • 71%

    Coaching and developing others

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

  • 70%

    Making decisions and solving problems

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

  • 70%

    Giving expert advice

    Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.

  • 69%

    Communicating within a team

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

  • 68%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 66%

    Scheduling work and activities

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

  • 62%

    Assessing and evaluating things

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

  • 55%

    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%

    Analytical

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

  • 76%

    Creative

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

  • 67%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 38%

    Administrative

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

  • 24%

    Enterprising

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

  • 24%

    Practical

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


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 81%

    Achievement

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

  • 81%

    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.

  • 76%

    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.

  • 74%

    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.

  • 48%

    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.

  • 38%

    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:
  • 99%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 96%

    Unstructured work

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

  • 95%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 91%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 88%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 85%

    Competition

    Compete with others, or be aware of competitive pressures.

  • 84%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 78%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 76%

    Contact with people

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

  • 76%

    Public speaking

    Talk to a group of people.

  • 75%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 75%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 69%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 67%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 64%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 63%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 62%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 58%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 56%

    Responsible for outcomes

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

  • 54%

    Conflict situations

    Deal with conflict or disagreements.

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, 19-3041.00 - Sociologists.


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