OSCA 732332

Shot Firer

Overview

  • Employed persons

    2,600

  • Employment status

    93.9% Full time

    6.1% Part time

  • Median age

    37 years

  • Employment by sex

    10.2% Female

    89.9% Male

    Highly male dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    6.8%

  • Main employing industry

    Mining

Indicator Shot Firer Total employment
Employed persons 2,600 12,049,400
Median age 37 years 40 years
Full-time share 93.9% 64.2%
Part-time share 6.1% 35.8%
Female employment share 10.2% 48.5%
Male employment share 89.9% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Highly male dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 6.8% 2.2%
Main employing industry Mining Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Shot Firers assemble, position and detonate explosives at a mining or demolition site.

What the occupation involves

  • Inspects and prepares blast sites for explosives
  • Assembles and positions explosives according to safety regulations and blast plans
  • Monitors weather conditions and adjusts blast plans accordingly
  • Conducts pre-blast checks and ensures that the blast area is clear
  • Detonates explosives using appropriate methods and techniques
  • Inspects blast sites after detonation to assess the effectiveness of the blast and ensure safety standards are met
  • Tests and maintains detonation equipment

Common occupation titles

No alternative occupation titles are listed for this occupation.

Specialisations

  • Blast Crew Operator
  • Charge Up Operator
  • Drill and Blast Supervisor

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 4
equivalent to a lower‑level Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification (Certificate II or III).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing is required.

OSCA structure

Machinery Operators and Drivers (7)

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Shot Firer Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Mining 74.4% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Manufacturing 14.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Construction 3.1% Construction 8.9%
    Administrative and Support Services 2.3% Education and Training 8.8%
    Public Administration and Safety 0.8% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 0.6% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 0.4% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Other Services 0.4% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Retail Trade 0.2% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Transport, Postal and Warehousing 0.2% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      17.4%

    • Victoria

      2.5%

    • Queensland

      27.6%

    • South Australia

      4.3%

    • Tasmania

      1.6%

    • Northern Territory

      1.0%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      0.2%

    Shot Firer Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 460 17.4% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 70 2.5% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 730 27.6% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 110 4.3% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 1,200 45.6% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 40 1.6% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 30 1.0% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 10 0.2% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Shot Firer

    Total employment

    Age group Shot Firer Total employment
    15–24 years 9.5% 14.3%
    25–34 years 32.4% 22.7%
    35–44 years 30.3% 22.3%
    45–54 years 19.7% 20.4%
    55–64 years 7.5% 15.3%
    65–74 years 0.6% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.2% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Shot Firer Total employment
    Female 10.2% 48.5%
    Male 89.9% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

      Download

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

      Find out more

      What is OSCA   OSCA content updates