Resources sector doing its job reducing Queensland’s unemployment rate

JOBS GROWTH across Queensland’s resource sector continues to be strong, with more than 10,000 additional jobs created over the last 12 months, but not enough to push the State’s unemployment rate below 6 percent.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said as a Queenslander, it was disappointing to see the State return one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates – 6.2 percent on trend and 6.1 percent seasonally adjusted.

“The resources sector is delivering – one in eight jobs in Queensland are supported by coal, minerals, petroleum and gas industries in our State.  That is more than 316,000 Queenslanders working in our resources industry,” he said.

“According to Seek, there are currently more than 1000 jobs in mining, resources and energy ready to be filled with 70 percent of the available positions paying $100,000 or more.” 

The Queensland Resources Council and its members are encouraging more young Queenslanders to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and explore a future career in the resources sector through the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).  

Supported by the Palaszczuk Government, QMEA now operates in 59 Queensland secondary schools.

“Whether it is the $60 billion in exports or the $5 billion in royalty taxes we return to the Government or the 14,200 local businesses we work with, the resources sector is delivering for Queensland,” Mr Macfarlane said.  

Total vacancies in Queensland for mining, resources and energy is 1,060. 

Seek mining, resources and energy vacancies, by region:

Brisbane 245
Gladstone and Central Queensland 105
Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast 58
Mackay and Coalfields 378
Townsville 99
Mount Isa 80
Toowoomba and Darling Downs 40
Roma 80
Cairns & Far North 38

Source: Seek.

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