Job Outlook data
Job classification structure
Job descriptions
Job prospects
Further information
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Job Outlook data

Most of the occupational statistics in Job Outlook are based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) monthly labour force survey, and are subject to sampling variability.  Relative standard errors (sampling errors relative to the size of the estimates) are very high for small occupations.  Occupational data are only available for the mid month of each quarter (February, May, August, and November).

The data presented in Job Outlook are averages for all Australia, and may not represent the characteristics of occupations in particular regions.  Projected employment growth for occupations will vary between regions, depending on regional economic growth and the regional industry base.  Job prospects will vary between regions and individual workers, depending on the specialised skills and personal attributes being sought by employers.

Some numbers in Job Outlook have been rounded to whole numbers and apparent differences in figures may reflect this rounding.  This may result in figures not appearing on graphs (rounded down to zero), yet the graph indicating a small positive figure.  

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Job classification structure

The information on this site is supported by a formal occupational classification structure. This classification structure is based mainly on the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations Second Edition (ASCO2), developed jointly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

Some of the ASCO2 occupation categories have been modified or “split” to make them more meaningful, and to provide a level of detail not available in the standard ASCO structure. Additional IT occupations have been added to provide for new and emerging skills and occupations for ‘Computing Professionals’. As a result of these modifications,  Job Outlook has information for around 400 occupations, expanded from the 340 occupation “unit groups” in the standard ASCO2 structure.

Although the standard ASCO2 occupations have been expanded, labour market data derived from the ABS are only available for 340 occupations (unit groups).  In these cases, data should be treated as proxy data for the split occupations affected.  Employment figures, however, have been prorated across these split occupations, based on data from the 2001 Census, except for IT occupations where data were not available.  Please note that data for split occupations will be replicated in several occupations, and may not reflect the characteristics for each of the component occupations.

For example, in Job Outlook the ASCO2 occupation unit group ‘Environmental and Agricultural Science Professionals’ has been split into three occupations: Environmental and Agricultural Scientists, Park Rangers and Forestry and Soil Professionals.  This has been done to provide a more useful breakdown of these occupations and reflect the growth of emerging occupations, skills and job titles.

In Job Outlook (‘browse by occupation’) occupations are grouped into 20 occupational groups (categories) and around 100 occupational clusters (broad occupations).  The titles used for many occupations in ASCO2 have also been changed to make them clearer.  If further information is required about the occupational classification structure, please contact DEEWR.

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Job descriptions

A summary of key labour force characteristics is presented in statistical form at the top of the overview page for each occupation.  More details for each of these characteristics are provided in the form of graphs comparing each occupation to all occupations (hyperlinked from a graphic or text label).

Job descriptions, skill levels and tasks have been taken from ASCO2 and edited in some instances to make them simpler and easier to understand.  Each job description is comprised of the title of the job and a brief description of the job.  A list of the main tasks performed in the job is presented, followed by a summary of the skill level and entry qualifications.

A list of associated occupations is also provided.  These associated occupations include specific occupations, specialisations within the occupation and alternative titles for the occupation.

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Job prospects

Job prospects ratings for the medium term (to 2012-13) are provided for each occupation.  The reasons why job prospects vary depends on several factors: projected and actual employment growth; whether occupations are in growth industries; unemployment; vacancy trends; whether there are skill shortages for the occupation; the number of people changing jobs but not changing occupations (job changing); and the number of workers leaving an occupation (job openings).

Job turnover (job changing and job openings) provides most job vacancies, and is typically higher in less skilled occupations.  Even for occupations where employment is declining, job turnover provides opportunities for jobseekers.

Job prospects are rated as GOOD, AVERAGE or BELOW AVERAGE.  These are indicative ratings and may vary from region to region, and also depend on the skills and personal attributes of individual workers.  There may be good job prospects for some individuals, and in some regions, for occupations rated as having below average or limited prospects.  Qualified workers in occupations with good prospects may have difficulty in finding employment because of the specialised skills, experience and personal attributes being sought by employers, or lower regional demand for the occupation.

Although care has been taken to produce these assessments, they must be used with caution. Individuals need to carefully assess their individual circumstances when considering the information.  As noted, the prospects information is indicative and individual and regional job prospects may change rapidly and unexpectedly.

DEEWR prepares projections of employment growth for occupations, currently to the year 2012-13.  These are based on several factors: occupational projections provided by the Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) at Monash University (from the MONASH model); actual employment growth in recent years; industry employment growth and prospects; vacancy trends; industry surveys; and qualitative information on occupational developments from employers, recruitment agencies, employer organisations, education and training bodies and labour market intermediaries.

The annual growth cutoffs for the deciles, ranked from strongest to lowest growth, are shown below, together with the words used to describe future employment growth in Job Outlook  (seven descriptors).

Estimates of total vacancies and job openings are based on work undertaken for DEEWR by the Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) at Monash University.  The figures include estimates for job openings - workers who leave an occupation, as well as total vacancies.  The data on vacancies are estimates of vacancies filled by employers, based mainly on the ABS Labour Mobility survey for the year ended February 2004.

Vacancies are split into three main sources of vacancies: employment growth, job openings (workers leaving the occupation) and job changing (workers changing employers but not occupation).  Job changing is derived by expressing future employment growth, job openings and total vacancies as a proportion of employment, and then subtracting future employment growth and job openings from total vacancies.

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Further information

 DEEWR produces a range of reports and publications on skill shortages and vacancy trends.    Click on the following link for more information about these publications:

Labour Market Information Portal.

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Feedback

If you wish to make any comments about this site, please send us feedback.

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