Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians prepare artworks, specimens and artefacts for collections, arrange and construct gallery exhibits, and assist Librarians to organise and operate systems for handling recorded material and files.
Tasks
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mounting and preparing objects for display
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designing and arranging exhibit furnishings, display cases and display areas
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assisting in setting up lighting and display equipment
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receiving, shipping, packing and unpacking exhibits
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ordering new library materials and maintaining library records and circulation systems
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cataloguing printed and recorded material
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entering data into databases and editing computer records
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operating audiovisual and reprographic equipment
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searching and verifying bibliographic data
Characteristics
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University
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Vocational Education and Training (VET)
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Informal or on-the-job
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Administrative
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Helping
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Sedentary
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Light
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Medium
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Heavy
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 | 6,000 |
2012 | 4,400 |
2013 | 5,500 |
2014 | 8,700 |
2015 | 9,800 |
2016 | 7,000 |
2017 | 7,600 |
2018 | 6,300 |
2019 | 4,400 |
2020 | 9,100 |
2021 | 8,300 |
2026 | 8,500 |
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 45% of people employed as Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 21 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 38 hours per week in their main job. This is 6 hours less than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $1,308 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,074
- 1 in 4 earn more than $1,474
Median hourly earnings are $35, 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 | Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 1,308 | 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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Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians work in industries like:
- Information media and telecommunications
- Education and training
- Public administration and safety
- Arts and recreation services.
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 | Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 20.1 | 31.6 |
VIC | 31.4 | 25.6 |
QLD | 10.6 | 20.0 |
SA | 7.2 | 7.0 |
WA | 22.6 | 10.8 |
TAS | 5.0 | 2.0 |
NT | 0.9 | 1.0 |
ACT | 2.2 | 1.9 |
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Around 67% of Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania have a large share of employment relative to their 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 Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians is 51 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 86% of the workforce. This is 38 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)
Age Bracket | Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.4 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 2.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 10.9 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 17.5 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 31.1 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 18.9 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 12.6 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 5.8 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 51 | 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 formal qualification in library and information services or another related field is usually needed to work as a Gallery, Library or Museum Technician. University and Vocational Education and Training (VET) are both common study pathways.
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 Creative Arts and Culture VET training pathways.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 10.5 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 19.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 39.0 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 10.5 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 10.6 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 4.4 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 5.3 | 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 Gallery, Library and Museum Technicians who can interact well with others, are efficient and can communicate clearly.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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52%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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48%
Serving othersLooking for ways to help people.
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45%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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43%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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43%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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43%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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41%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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41%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
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41%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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39%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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39%
Social perceptivenessUnderstanding why people react the way they do.
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39%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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39%
Learning strategiesFiguring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
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37%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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37%
Management of personnel resourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
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34%
PersuasionTalking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.
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34%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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30%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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30%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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29%
NegotiationBringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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71%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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67%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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53%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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46%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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45%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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43%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
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36%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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31%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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29%
Communications and mediaMedia production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
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29%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
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29%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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23%
Sociology and anthropologyGroup behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
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22%
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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15%
TelecommunicationsTransmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
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14%
Sales and marketingShowing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
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13%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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12%
PsychologyHuman behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.
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11%
Philosophy and theologyPhilosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.
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11%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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9%
Fine artsCompose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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52%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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52%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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50%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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50%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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46%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
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45%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
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45%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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45%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
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41%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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41%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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41%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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41%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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39%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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37%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
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37%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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36%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
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36%
MemorizationRemember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
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34%
Finger dexterityPut together small parts with your fingers.
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34%
Manual dexterityQuickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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25%
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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61%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
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59%
Handling and moving objectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
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57%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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56%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
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55%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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55%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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54%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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53%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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51%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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46%
Working with the publicGreeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.
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46%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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44%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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43%
Scheduling work and activitiesWorking out the timing of events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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43%
Monitoring people, processes and thingsChecking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
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43%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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40%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
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39%
Training and teaching othersUnderstanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
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39%
Doing physically active workUse your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
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38%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
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37%
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.
-
100%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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71%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
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52%
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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33%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
19%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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.
-
67%
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
43%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
33%
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
-
99%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
98%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
97%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
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96%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
90%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
90%
Contact with the publicWork with customers or the public.
-
82%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
80%
Physically close to peopleWork physically close to other people.
-
76%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
76%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
76%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
74%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
73%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
72%
Making repetitive motionsSpend time making repetitive motions.
-
71%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
70%
Automation of tasksDo tasks that are mostly automated.
-
67%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
66%
Angry or unpleasant peopleDeal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.
-
65%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
65%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
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, 25-4031.00 - Library Technicians.
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.