Workplace relations

Overview

The Australian minerals industry has a strong record of creating and sustaining highly paid, highly skilled and secure jobs. The mining industry directly employs approximately 286,000 people across Australia, more than triple the number employed in 2001. Eight-eight per cent of miming workers are permanently employed and 96 per cent are full-time.

Deloitte Access Economics estimates that the mining and mining equipment, technology and services sector directly employs 480,000 people and indirectly supports another 650,000 jobs through purchases from other sectors.

The industry paid $252 billion in mining wages between 2012-13 to 2021-22. In 2021-22, the average full-time adult total earnings in mining was $144,000, compared to $95,000 across all industries.

Increasing wages requires increasing productivity in Australian workplaces and enabling businesses to reward higher performance.

Access to a range of employment options at each workplace allows for a more efficient and innovative workforce where pay is linked to performance.

Australian mining is the nation’s highest paying industry. It requires a modern workplace system that allows for businesses to continue to provide the most competitive terms and conditions to attract and maintain workers.

Policy Priorities