Queensland records highest ever number of coal jobs

THE value of Queensland’s resources industry to the state economy has been proven yet again, according to the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), with the news Queensland has recorded the highest number of coal jobs ever reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in the September to November 2020 quarter.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said coal industry jobs rose by almost 40 percent during the quarter -- increasing from 28,072 to 39,075 -- which demonstrated how crucial the resources sector is to the state economy and to jobs.

“December trade data also shows the value of Australian coal exports rose by 26 per cent over the previous month, showing coal continues to be an important part of the global energy and industrial mix and will be for years to come,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“In terms of Queensland, December was a very good month for coal tonnes, with state coal exports up 19 percent on November, increasing from 16 million tonnes to just over 19 million tonnes.”

The latest ABS jobs data shows Queensland also recorded the highest number of jobs in resources since 2013, increasing 23 percent over the previous quarter to reach 78,369 jobs.

This is 18 percent higher, or nearly 12,000 more jobs, than the same period in 2019, which was unaffected by the global pandemic.

Mr Macfarlane said oil and gas jobs have also recovered strongly, increasing 147 percent between the August and November quarters.

He said the state’s resources companies continue to perform and exceed expectations in spite of COVID-19, which benefits every Queenslander through taxes, royalties, exports, jobs and business opportunities emanating from the sector.

“Our companies are also leading the way in exploring and investing in new economy minerals, technologies and renewable energy projects so we can continue to contribute to the state economy and to jobs in the long term,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of the resources sector and Queensland is in an ideal position to benefit from our resilience and innovation.”

www.qrc.org.au

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