Australia's Mining Sector Faces Acute Workforce Shortage
Over the next decade and half, South Australia’s mining sector is expected to create another 35,000 jobs; but by present estimates, in the next five year, the industry is going to face an acute shortage of skilled workers. Research published by the Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA) says the projected jobs creation in the industry is over and above the approximate 15,000 jobs already existing in the sector.
With 40 resource-based projects in the pipeline, Phil de
Courcey, chief executive of RESA, feels that there is a need for the industry,
government and educational institutions to draw-up plans to meet future demand.
"While there is a challenge associated with getting people
skilled to take up the roles, there is also an opportunity for South Australia
with social and economic benefits," said Mr de Courcey, quoted by The
Australian.
Although the growth of the South Australian mining industry will
not be as big as the resource-based firms of Western Australia, RESA predicts
the demand for skilled workers will match the potential of mining industry in
Queensland.
Foreseeing this potential the state Government of South Australia
established the Mining Industry Participation Office (MIPO) with the objective
to promote and encourage resource-based industries in state.
South Australia has been making a proactive effort to encourage
global investments in its resource-based sector. Promoting itself as the 'El
Dorado of the future', the state has succeeded in eliciting interest among
Indian and other global mining companies.
With a rapidly growing economy, countries like India and China
have an insatiable demand for mineral resources. These are factors that make
untapped mineral resources in Australia an attractive destination of mining
firms from countries like India and China.
Investing companies are however facing a major challenge finding
skilled workforce in the country. It is to meet this shortage that several
mining firms, like India’s Adani group, last year, held negotiations with the
Australian government to change the individual 457 visas with bulk temporary
migration agreements, to enable them to bring overseas labour to work in the
country.
RESA believes the growth of mining-based employment will be “across
the three spheres of supply chain companies, developing mines and operational
mines." Researchers forecast that an acute shortage of workforce will be
experienced around 2018, in some spheres.
According to the study the key demand forecast is for “crushers
and dragline operators, exploration drillers, laboratory assistants,
underground and open-cut miners, and mobile plant and process plant operators.”
The RESA study seeks to provide a broad understanding of the looming
shortage of workers, to enable the implementation of appropriate measures to
meet the emerging demand.
"There have been several initiatives taken both at
vocational training and university level. Some of the responses are starting
and this report says we need to continue to think about the future and focus on
the opportunities," says Mr de Courcey.
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