Australian Mining, Oil and Gas Projects Summary

The Resource Channel’s research team consistently reviews the Australian Mining, Oil & Gas project pipeline, providing a current and comprehensive overview - project by project, either under construction or about to start - including key contractors and job numbers.  This is intended to facilitate your own job search.

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2013 Australian Mining, Oil and Gas Projects Overview

In March 2013, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released its Industry Dimensions of the Resource Boom research paper. 

Despite sweeping job losses across the industry since September 2012, the resource industry continues to be the fastest growing source of employment for Australian’s having created 130,000 direct jobs over the past five years and 28,500 new Australian jobs in 2012 alone*.

Key findings of the RBA report include: 

  • About 1.1 million Australians are employed directly in the resources industry or as a direct result of industry. Employment figures account for 9.75% of total employment in 2012 through related job creation in other sectors servicing the industry.
  • Three times more Australians are employed due to the resource industry than originally thought.
  • Approximately $250 billion of Australia’s annual output can be attributed to the economy generated by the resources industry. 
  • Total employment figures have doubled since 2003/2004 as a result of the resources industry.
  • It also turns out the vast majority of workers are from Australia. According to the Department of Immigration statistics, more than 92% of the new jobs created in the industry are filled by Australian employees.

For a summary of Australian mining, oil and gas projects, together with awarded contracts and employers, click here.

*Source: AMMA

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An overview of Government & Industry Initiatives to address the skills shortage

Have you ever wondered what industry and government are doing about filling the skills shortage void?  We have the definitive guide for you here.

If the 272 projects in the pipeline in mining, oil and gas are to proceed, Australia needs skills and lots of them.  The number of new entrants required for the Australian resource sector fluctuates anywhere between 70,000 to 200,000, depending on which latest government, industry or media report you read.

In September 2009, the Australian Government announced the establishment of the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce to develop a comprehensive plan to meet the skills needs of more than 75 major resources projects expected to commence – at that time - in Australia over the next five years. The Taskforce was chaired by the Hon Gary Gray AO MP, then Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia and comprised representatives from training, union and employer entities.  After extensive research and consultation with industry stakeholders, the Taskforce’s report, Resourcing the Future, was released publicly in July 2010.  By March 2011, the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations announced that the Australian Government had accepted all 31 recommendations presented.

The Taskforce found that both the short and long term skills needs of new resources projects will be significant. In particular:

  • under the Taskforce’s medium growth scenario, there could be at least 30,000 construction jobs on new resources projects in every year to 2015 (peaking at around 45,000 in 2012 and 2013)
  • the number of jobs in mining and gas operations may grow by 65,000, taking the sector’s direct employment to around 250,000 people by 2015
  • there are emerging skills shortages in mining-related professions, particularly mining engineers and geoscientists, and for tradespeople and
  • there will be further vacancies in both mining and gas operations as around ten per cent of employees (more than 18,000 people) leave the sector each year through retirement or transition to other sectors.

Resourcing the Future contained 31 recommendations in seven key areas of workforce development for the resources sector to:

Twelve months on from this ringing endorsement, what has been achieved?  Click on the links above provided for an overview of progress against these seven key areas.

For full details click here