Overview
All Metal Casting, Forging & Finishing Trades
-
$2,020 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Blacksmiths
-
250 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
77% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
43 hours Average full-time
-
48 years Average age
-
2% female Gender Share
Blacksmiths shape bars, rods and blocks of metal by heating and hammering to produce or repair metal articles.
Specialisations: Hammer Smith, Spring Maker, Tool Smith.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate III or IV in engineering - fabrication trade to work as a Blacksmith.
Tasks
- Selects metal stock for job requirements.
- Heats metal in forges and furnaces and hammers, punches and cuts metal using hand tools and machine presses.
- Tempers and hardens finished articles by quenching in oil or water baths or by cooling gradually in air.
- Prepares electrolytic and silver solutions for electroforming and planting solution to the objects to be coated.
- Sets and adjusts controls to regulate electric current and depositing of coating on objects.
- Prepares horses hooves for shoeing, nails horseshoes to hooves and trims hooves.
- Cuts, trims, shapes and smoothes stock to form mould patterns.
- Fills boxes with sand and sets patterns in place and pours molten metal into moulds, applies refractory paint and positions cores in moulds.
- Finishes metal and articles by polishing and buffing and applying shellac, lacquer, paint and other finishes.
Prospects
The number of people working as Blacksmiths (in their main job) stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 340 in 2011 to 250 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Blacksmiths work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Construction; and Transport, Postal and Warehousing.
- Full-time: Many work full-time (77%, higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 43 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 48 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (62%).
- Gender: 2% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
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.
Pathways
You need extensive experience, or a certificate III or IV in engineering - fabrication trade to work as a Blacksmith.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Automotive Manufacturing Sector, Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Skills & Knowledge
Employers look for Metal Casting, Forging & Finishing Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and are hardworking.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

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, 51-4022.00 - Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
Work Environment
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.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
In an open vehicle or equipment
Work in an open vehicle (e.g., a tractor).
-
Pace of work set by equipment
Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
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.
-
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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

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, 51-4022.00 - Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
All Metal Casting, Forging & Finishing Trades
-
$2,020 Weekly Pay
-
Stable Future Growth
Blacksmiths
-
250 workers Employment Size
-
Medium skill Skill level rating
-
77% Full-Time Full-Time Share
-
43 hours Average full-time
-
48 years Average age
-
2% female Gender Share
Blacksmiths shape bars, rods and blocks of metal by heating and hammering to produce or repair metal articles.
Specialisations: Hammer Smith, Spring Maker, Tool Smith.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate III or IV in engineering - fabrication trade to work as a Blacksmith.
Tasks
- Selects metal stock for job requirements.
- Heats metal in forges and furnaces and hammers, punches and cuts metal using hand tools and machine presses.
- Tempers and hardens finished articles by quenching in oil or water baths or by cooling gradually in air.
- Prepares electrolytic and silver solutions for electroforming and planting solution to the objects to be coated.
- Sets and adjusts controls to regulate electric current and depositing of coating on objects.
- Prepares horses hooves for shoeing, nails horseshoes to hooves and trims hooves.
- Cuts, trims, shapes and smoothes stock to form mould patterns.
- Fills boxes with sand and sets patterns in place and pours molten metal into moulds, applies refractory paint and positions cores in moulds.
- Finishes metal and articles by polishing and buffing and applying shellac, lacquer, paint and other finishes.
The number of people working as Blacksmiths (in their main job) stayed about the same over 5 years:
from 340 in 2011 to 250 in 2016.
Caution: The Australian jobs market is changing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These estimates do not take account of the impact of COVID-19. They may not reflect the current jobs market and should be used and interpreted with extreme caution.
- Size: This is a very small occupation.
- Location: Blacksmiths work in many regions of Australia.
- Industries: Most work in Manufacturing; Construction; and Transport, Postal and Warehousing.
- Full-time: Many work full-time (77%, higher than the average of 66%).
- Hours: Full-time workers spend around 43 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
- Age: The average age is 48 years (compared to the average of 40 years). Many workers are 45 years or older (62%).
- Gender: 2% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).
Main Industries
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Industries are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC 06).
States and Territories
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian States and Territories, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Education Level
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.
You need extensive experience, or a certificate III or IV in engineering - fabrication trade to work as a Blacksmith.
Before starting a course, check it will provide you with the skills and qualifications you need. Visit
- My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
- AAPathways website to explore Automotive Manufacturing Sector, Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.
Employers look for Metal Casting, Forging & Finishing Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and are hardworking.
Filter Skills & Knowledge
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
-
Production and processing
Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
-
Mechanical
Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
Mathematics
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
-
Education and training
Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
-
Administration and management
Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
-
Engineering and technology
Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
Technical design
Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
-
Computers and electronics
Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
-
Customer and personal service
Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
-
English language
English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
-
Clerical
Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
-
Transportation
Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
-
Public safety and security
Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
-
Chemistry
Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
-
Building and construction
Materials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
Physics
The physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
-
Communications and media
Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.
-
Personnel and human resources
Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
-
Sales and marketing
Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
-
Law and government
How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
-
Monitoring
Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
-
Operation monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
-
Active listening
Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
-
Operation and control
Controlling equipment or systems.
-
Critical thinking
Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
-
Quality control analysis
Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
-
Reading comprehension
Reading work related information.
-
Speaking
Talking to others.
-
Troubleshooting
Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.
-
Writing
Writing things for co-workers or customers.
-
Complex problem solving
Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
-
Coordination with others
Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
-
Judgment and decision making
Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
-
Time management
Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
-
Social perceptiveness
Understanding why people react the way they do.
-
Equipment maintenance
Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.
-
Learning strategies
Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.
-
Management of personnel resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.
-
Active learning
Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
-
Repairing
Fixing machines or systems.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities.
-
Control precision
Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
-
Near vision
See details that are up-close (within a few feet).
-
Arm-hand steadiness
Keep your hand or arm steady.
-
Oral comprehension
Listen to and understand what people say.
-
Finger dexterity
Put together small parts with your fingers.
-
Manual dexterity
Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
-
Perceptual speed
Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
-
Reaction time
Quickly move your hand, finger, or foot when a sound, light, picture or something else appears.
-
Visualization
Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
-
Oral expression
Communicate by speaking.
-
Problem spotting
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
-
Sorting or ordering
Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
-
Written comprehension
Read and understand written information.
-
Auditory attention
Pay attention to a certain sound when there are other distracting sounds.
-
Deductive reasoning
Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
-
Inductive reasoning
Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
-
Multilimb coordination
Use your arms and/or legs at the same time while sitting, standing, or lying down.
-
Selective attention
Pay attention to something without being distracted.
-
Rate control
Change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
-
Speech clarity
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
Handling and moving objects
Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.
-
Controlling equipment or machines
Operating machines or processes either directly or using controls (not including computers or vehicles).
-
Doing physically active work
Use your arms, legs and whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling objects.
-
Monitoring people, processes and things
Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.
-
Communicating within a team
Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
Building good relationships
Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
Looking for changes over time
Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
-
Keeping your knowledge up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
Making decisions and solving problems
Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
-
Checking for errors or defects
Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.
-
Driving vehicles or equipment
Running, manoeuvring, navigating, or driving things like forklifts, vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
-
Thinking creatively
Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
Working with mechanical equipment
Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.
-
Planning and prioritising work
Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
-
Assessing and evaluating things
Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.
-
Training and teaching others
Understanding the needs of others, developing training programs, and teaching or instructing.
-
Researching and investigating
Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
-
Checking compliance with standards
Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
-
Collecting and organising information
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
-
Documenting or recording information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

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, 51-4022.00 - Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.
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.
Filter Work Environment
Demands
The physical and social demands workers face most often are shown below.
-
Dangerous equipment
Work near dangerous equipment like saws, machinery with open moving parts, or moving traffic.
-
Wear common protective or safety equipment
Wear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
-
Face-to-face discussions
Talk with people face-to-face.
-
Time pressure
Work to strict deadlines.
-
Loud or uncomfortable sounds
Be exposed to noises and sounds that are distracting or uncomfortable.
-
Spend time standing
Spend time standing at work.
-
Teamwork
Work with people in a group or team.
-
Contact with people
Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
Using your hands to handle, control, or feel
Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.
-
Impact of decisions
Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
Health and safety of others
Take responsibility for the health and safety of others.
-
In an open vehicle or equipment
Work in an open vehicle (e.g., a tractor).
-
Pace of work set by equipment
Pace of work depends on the speed of equipment or machinery.
-
Being exact or accurate
Be very exact or highly accurate.
-
Very hot or cold temperatures
Work in very hot or cold temperatures.
-
Freedom to make decisions
Have freedom to make decision on your own.
-
Responsible for outcomes
Take responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
Minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings
Be exposed to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings.
-
Frequent decision making
Frequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
Indoors, not heat controlled
Work indoors without heating or cooling (e.g., warehouse without heat).
Values
Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Achievement
Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
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.
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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.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
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Practical
Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Administrative
Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
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Analytical
Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
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Enterprising
Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Creative
Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
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Helping
Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

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, 51-4022.00 - Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic.