Mining Companies Require Additional 35,000 Miners in Next 16 Years

The Chinese mining machinery industry is developing fast and sustainably. However, we need to concern about the foreign mining industrial development. Companies operating in South Australia's resources sector may need 35,000 additional mining employees over the next 16 years, according to new research from the Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA).

The new jobs would be in addition to the 15,000 who were currently employed in the sector. It’s said that it is important to appreciate that this estimate is more than double the number in South Australia's resources sector at present. It poses a serious challenge of where the state sources these employees and whether we can access the right talent pool in sufficient numbers to meet this rapid growth in workforce demand for advanced mining projects.

The research followed a RESA report earlier in 2013, which found that the number of workers employed in the sector would remain fairly constant over the next seven years without taking into consideration the new mining projects to be commissioned. The precise data is being finalized but there is no doubt that South Australia can look forward to a strong growth of mining-based employment across the three spheres of supply chain companies, developing mines and operational mines.

RESA noted that the initial findings are pointing to an acute shortage, particularly by 2018, in some occupations. Early indicators point towards the highest demand being for crusher and dragline operators, exploration drillers, laboratory assistants, underground and open-cut miners and mobile plant and process plant operators. Commenting on the early findings, the Government is a supporter of the mining and resources sector and welcomes continued growth.