Quick answer: ICT Business and Systems Analysts are moderately stress-exposed compared with other Australian occupations — ranked #181 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 46.4/100 against a national average of 47.4. The biggest drivers are precision and monotony.
ICT Business and Systems Analysts stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demandsbelow average35.2 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burdenbelow average57.2 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demandsbelow average51.6 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control72.6 vs 75.5 avg
- Precision and monotony83 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environmentbelow average24.1 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing (lack of control is shown on an inverted scale — see methodology). Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for ict business and systems analysts
Compared with the average Australian occupation, ict business and systems analysts score furthest above the norm on precision and monotony (83 vs 67.7 average). The single biggest individual stress factor is importance of being exact or accurate at 86.8/100 — against an all-occupation average of 78.6.
The occupation scores below the national average for physical environment (24.1 vs 38.2), pace and demands (51.6 vs 56) and responsibility burden (57.2 vs 60), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for ict business and systems analysts
- 1Precision and monotony
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
86.8/100
All-occupation average: 78.6
- 2Precision and monotony
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
79.2/100
All-occupation average: 56.9
- 3Responsibility burden
Coordinate or Lead Others
75.8/100
All-occupation average: 64.9
- 4Pace and demands
Time Pressure
74/100
All-occupation average: 71.6
- 5Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
68/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
All 22 stress factors for ict business and systems analysts
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
35.2 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People16 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People43.2 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations46.2 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
57.2 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results66.5 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety32.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results68 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error43.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others75.8 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
51.6 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure74 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week67 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment6.5 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making57 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition53.5 vs 52.4
Lack of control
72.6 vs 75.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions67.2 vs 76.4
- Amount of Highly Structured Work78 vs 74.7
Precision and monotony
83 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks79.2 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate86.8 vs 78.6
Physical environment
24.1 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable53.8 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting10 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.5 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections4.5 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity47.8 vs 61.1
Understand these hazards
The elevated stress categories for ict business and systems analysts map to recognised psychosocial work factors under ISO 45003 and Australian WHS legislation. Learn what each one is and how it can be controlled:
- Autonomy →The degree of control workers have over how they do their work.
- Learning and Stimulation →Whether work offers enough challenge, variety, and opportunity for growth.
- Work Monitoring →How worker performance is measured, observed, and reported.
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
The two control-related variables are derived from SafeWork's “freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”. Control scores are displayed on an inverted scale relative to the other five categories: the composite stress score incorporates 100 minus the displayed control values.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
ICT Business and Systems Analysts: how stressful is the job?
ICT Business and Systems Analysts rank #181 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 46.4/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 42.9% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for ict business and systems analysts?
The highest-scoring hazards are importance of being exact or accurate (86.8/100), importance of repeating same tasks (79.2/100) and coordinate or lead others (75.8/100). Overall, the occupation scores above the national average in precision and monotony.
Which stress factors are lower for ict business and systems analysts?
ICT Business and Systems Analysts score below the national average for emotional demands (35.2 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (57.2 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (51.6 vs 56 average) and physical environment (24.1 vs 38.2 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for ict business and systems analysts. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.