Surveyors
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Surveyors plan, direct and conduct survey work to determine, delineate, plan and precisely position tracts of land, natural and constructed features, coastlines, marine floors and underground works, and manage related information systems.
Specialisations: Cadastral Surveyor, Engineering Surveyor, Geodetic Surveyor, Hydrographic Surveyor, Mine Surveyor, Photogrammetric Surveyor.
A bachelor degree in surveying or spatial science or another related field is usually needed to work as a Surveyor. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Tasks
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Undertakes research and development of surveying and photogrammetric measurement systems, cadastral systems and land information systems.
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Plans and designs land subdivision projects and negotiates details with local governments and other authorities.
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Advises architects, engineering professionals, environmental and other scientists or other relevant professionals on the technical requirements of surveying, mapping and spatial information systems.
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Compiles and evaluates data, interprets codes of practice, and writes reports concerning survey measurement, land use and tenure.
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Prepares site plans and survey reports required for conveyance and land ownership matters.
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Practical
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Analytical
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Administrative
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Medium
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, Surveyors and Spatial Scientists, under the outlook section.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 88% of people employed as Surveyors 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 47 hours per week in their main job. This is 3 hours more than 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
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Most Surveyors work in the Professional, scientific and technical services industry. They are also employed in industries like:
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 31.6 | 31.6 |
VIC | 19.9 | 25.6 |
QLD | 21.7 | 20.0 |
SA | 4.8 | 7.0 |
WA | 17.1 | 10.8 |
TAS | 2.2 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.3 | 1.0 |
ACT | 1.4 | 1.9 |
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Around 43% of Surveyors live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.
Western Australia has a large share of employment relative to its population size.
The regions with the largest share of workers are:
- Perth - North West
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Melbourne - Outer East
- Perth - South East
- Melbourne - Inner.
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 Surveyors 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 5% of the workforce. This is 43 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 | Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.9 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 7.3 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 29.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 24.1 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 18.0 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 8.1 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 4.3 | 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
A bachelor degree in surveying or spatial science or another related field is usually needed to work as a Surveyor. Some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification.
Registration may be needed to work as a Cadastral or licenced Surveyor in your state or territory.
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 Construction, Plumbing and Services VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Surveyors | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 6.0 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 46.5 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 25.8 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 8.3 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 10.4 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 1.0 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 1.9 | 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 Surveyors and Spatial Scientists who work well in a team, are motivated and organised.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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57%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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55%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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55%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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54%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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52%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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52%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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52%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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52%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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52%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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50%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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50%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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50%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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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%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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48%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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48%
Operation monitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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48%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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41%
Operation and controlControlling equipment or systems.
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41%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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39%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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82%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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80%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
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73%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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70%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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68%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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67%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
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67%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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66%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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64%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
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62%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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62%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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59%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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57%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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52%
History and archeologyEvents of the past, their causes, how we learn about them, and how they influence the way we live today.
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48%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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45%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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42%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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41%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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39%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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35%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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64%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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63%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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63%
Working with numbersAdd, subtract, multiply, or divide.
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61%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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61%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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61%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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57%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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55%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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55%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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55%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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54%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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54%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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52%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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52%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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50%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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50%
Depth perceptionDecide which thing is closer or further away from you, or decide how far away it is.
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50%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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46%
Arm-hand steadinessKeep your hand or arm steady.
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46%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
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82%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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82%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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80%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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79%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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75%
Coordinating the work of a teamGetting members of a group to work together to finish a task.
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75%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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74%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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74%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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74%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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73%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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71%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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69%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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69%
Coaching and developing othersWorking out the needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or helping them to improve.
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69%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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68%
Guiding and directing staffGuiding and directing staff, including setting and monitoring performance standards.
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68%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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65%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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64%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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64%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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63%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use 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.
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95%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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71%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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71%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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48%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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29%
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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19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
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76%
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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71%
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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57%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
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57%
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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57%
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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52%
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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99%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
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98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
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97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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97%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
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92%
Outdoors, exposed to weatherWork outdoors, exposed to the weather.
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86%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
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86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
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84%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
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84%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
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82%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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81%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
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81%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
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81%
Health and safety of othersTake responsibility for the health and safety of others.
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79%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
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79%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
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76%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
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76%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
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75%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
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74%
Very hot or cold temperaturesWork in very hot or cold temperatures.
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72%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
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, 17-1022.00 - Surveyors.
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.