Australians urged to make their career in mining

Australia’s world-class mining industry needs more motivated people from diverse backgrounds to be part of the future of mining.

With mining companies across Australia facing skills shortages in the years ahead, the MCA has continued its recruitment of future talent with the release of the Make Your Career in Mining careers guide during National Skills Week.

Australian mining already employs around 256,000 people, and when the mining equipment, technology and services sector is taken into account, around one in every ten Australian jobs is in mining or related industries.

These are stable, high-paying, mostly permanent jobs in both the regions and the cities, with average mining wages in mining 54 per cent higher than the all-industries average and set to grow as productivity and innovation improve.

With more than 100 careers across the mining industry, opportunities exist on mine sites, in high-tech remote mining centres, in science as well as computer laboratories – or any mix of locations.

The guide outlines opportunities in managing a team, rehabilitating mine sites, building robotics or piloting drones, engineering machinery, safeguarding native plants and animals, or tackling climate change.

With advances in technology – AI, big data, automation and connectivity – core business for modern Australian mining, the guide shows how technology which makes workplaces safer and healthier is enabling industry to employ more people in roles ranging from virtual reality to mechatronics.

The industry is also a significant employer of environmental scientists, Indigenous engagement specialists, cultural heritage advisers, hydrogeologists and social performance advisers.

Demand for Australia’s minerals and metals – and highly skilled employees – will only grow. The industry added another 40,000 jobs in the past five years and over the next couple of years aims to create 5000 new apprenticeships.

With global demand for energy and infrastructure rising to meet a rapidly growing world population, society is consuming more minerals and metals than ever before.

Australia’s miners produce more than 45 minerals used in the manufacture of products ranging from smartphones, electric cars, space travel, solar panels, glass and concrete to golf clubs, wind turbines and medical implants.

Renewable energy is also driving demand for resources. Australia is fast becoming the supplier of choice for a low carbon future, whether it be silver, silicon and copper for solar panels, lithium for battery storage and electric vehicles, or vanadium, cobalt and rare earths for wind turbines.

Whatever your age, background and experience, with so many jobs on offer there has never been a better time to consider a career in Australian mining.

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