Primary Production Supervisors and Specialists

How to become a Shearer

Removes wool and hair from sheep, goats, alpacas and other animals.

Main tasks

Selects and prepares shearing equipment
Catches and positions animals for shearing
Shears and removes wool and hair from animals
Identifies contaminated fibre and injured, infected and diseased animals
Treats skin cuts on shorn animals
Returns shorn animals to let-out pens for counting and checking
May service, maintain and repair shearing equipment
May shear stud animals with hand shears or special combs

Ways in

TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Shearing (AHC32925); Certificate II in Shearing (AHC21325)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

About 2,100 people work in this job group now, and about 2,300 are projected by 2035. (+7.8%)
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Shearer?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Shearing; Certificate II in Shearing.

Is a Shearer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 2,100 to about 2,300 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Shearer?

Usually not. Only 2% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Shearing; Certificate II in Shearing.

Will AI change the work of a Shearer?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04