Queensland resources companies go for jobs 'gold'

QUEENSLAND’s resources sector is laying claim to powering jobs growth across the state, using Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing an increase of close to 10,000 jobs in the February quarter as evidence.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the number of jobs created in just one quarter was more than the number of athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games. 

“Over the coming days around 6,600 athletes from around the world will settle into the official Games village for two weeks. However, 9,095 resources sector jobs have been created which have the potential to be lifetime careers,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Queensland Minister for Employment, Shannon Fentiman said the latest ABS figures "show we are right on track with our commitment to more jobs for Queensland".

“This is fantastic news for Queensland and it’s pleasing to see the fast growing resource sector is providing more jobs for the regions," Ms Fentiman said.

“Since the Palaszczuk Government was elected we have worked with business and industry to create more than 160,300 new jobs in Queensland.”

QRC's Mr Macfarlane said 'on the podium for jobs growth' was "gold for resources, up 16 percent, silver for manufacturing with 14 percent and bronze for wholesale trade rising 8 percent.

“Most resources sector careers are highly paid and highly skilled and this data again demonstrates the sectors regional reach, with more than 85 percent of the jobs outside south-east Queensland,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Resources belong to all Queenslanders and these new jobs lift our common wealth.”

The ABS quarterly labour force data showed:

• Exploration and mining support services jobs up 63 percent
• Coal jobs up 23 percent
• Metal jobs fell 15 percent but still up 98 percent over the 12 months.
• Oil and gas jobs rose 3 percent and up 61 percent over the 12 months.

Employment growth in the sector is leading to greater diversity. Indigenous employment in the Queensland resources sector has outstripped growth across the total resources sector workforce, doubling in 10years, the ABS figures showed.

“In 2006, Indigenous people comprised 3 percent of the State’s workforce in resources, whereas in 2016, it had grown to 4 percent. Queensland’s Indigenous population is 4 percent which places the resources sector as one of the few industries with a genuine representation.” Mr Macfarlane said.

The sector now provides one in every $6 in the Queensland economy, sustains one in eight Queensland jobs, and supports more than 16,400 businesses across the State – with almost 7000 businesses in the Greater Brisbane region – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass, acco5rding to the QRC.

Resources jobs in Queensland this financial year include:

• New coal leases for Stanmore Coal – 210 jobs
• Santos to invest $900m in gas developments – 400 construction jobs
• New Century Resources and Santos gas supply deal – 240 jobs
• BMA apprentices start work in central Queensland – 40 jobs
• Hastings Deering apprentices – 48 jobs
• Rio Tinto’s Indigenous workforce across Cape York – reaches 574 jobs
• Batchfire Callide – 450 jobs
• Metallica Minerals Bauxite Project – 26 jobs
• Glencore’s Lady Loretta restart – 250 jobs
• Glencore Copper – 200 jobs
• Arrow and Shell’s QCLNG sales agreement – 1000 jobs
• Senex wins petroleum tender – 150 jobs.

www.qrc.org.au

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