Data release on resource region job growth coincides with gas project milestone

RESOURCE SECTOR regions are enjoying strong jobs growth over the last 12 months, according to data released today, Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics today showed that over the last 12 months, the Mackay region had added 4500 extra jobs, an increase of 4.8 percent; the Darling Downs-Maranoa had added 2100 jobs, an increase of 3.4 percent; outback Queensland, which includes the North West Minerals Province, had added 1200 jobs, an increase of 3.9 percent; and the Fitzroy region had added 400 jobs or a 0.4 percent increase.

“Last financial year, the Queensland resources industry added almost 5000 new full-time equivalent jobs in Queensland to more than 38,150 direct jobs. The industry supports a total of 282,634 jobs – the equivalent of one in every eight Queensland jobs,” he said.

“Today’s jobs data comes as Santos announces the completion of a major project in the Bowen Basin – in the Darling Downs-Maranoa region– to expand its Scotia compression plant and field from 23 to more than 100 wells. The project delivered by more than 400 workers will boost gas supply to the Santos GLNG project, supporting jobs in local industry by increasing east coast domestic gas supplies as well as those jobs from exporting LNG.

“There are more jobs and more optimism in the resources sector, and stable policy with continued access to resource, will underpin new investment, new opportunities and new jobs for Queenslanders.”

As Queensland Minister for Employment Shannon Fentiman said earlier this month: “It’s pleasing to see the fast-growing resource sector is providing more jobs for the regions. Since the Palaszczuk Government was elected we have worked with business and industry to create more than 160,300 new jobs in Queensland.”

The Queensland resources 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.

Link to Santos announcement on Scotia project 

Link to Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham statement on Scotia project 

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