Leslie Massey
Mining has long been a significant primary sector industry in Australia, contributing to the country's economy through export income, royalty payments, and employment. In 2021, the mining sector employed about 270,000 people, representing around 2% of the total labour force. In 2023, this figure increased to approximately 219,500 people, making mining one of the largest industries in the country. Metal Ore Mining is the largest sector in the industry, employing 144,700 workers. The Australian mining industry is known for its high wages, with mining workers earning above-award wages and conditions. The sector is also predominantly foreign-owned, with BHP and Rio Tinto being 76% and 83% foreign-owned, respectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people employed in the mining industry | 219,500 in 2023 |
| Percentage of total labour force | 2% in 2021 |
| Percentage of workers with their main job in the industry | 2.2% |
| Number of workers in NSW | 40,000 |
| Number of workers in WA and Queensland | Not specified, but most jobs are in these states |
| Median earnings | $2,649 per week |
| Metal Ore Mining sector employment | 144,700 |
| Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers employment | Not specified, but the largest occupation in the industry |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2023, around 219,500 people were employed in the mining industry
- Mining covers exploration and extraction of minerals, oil and gas
- Most jobs are in Western Australia and Queensland
- Drillers, miners and shot firers are the largest occupation
- Mining is Australia's largest sector by share of national GDP
In 2023, around 219,500 people were employed in the mining industry
Mining in Australia has long been a significant primary sector industry, contributing to the country's economy through export income, royalty payments, and employment. In 2023, around 219,500 people were employed in the mining industry, making it one of the largest industries in the country. This number represents approximately 2.2% of the total workforce in Australia.
The mining sector in Australia includes the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil, and gas. The leading sectors within mining are coal, iron ore, and gold mining. Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal, contributing 35% of international trade in this commodity. The country also leads in the export of iron ore, diamonds, rutile, zinc, and zirconium. It is the second-largest exporter of gold and uranium.
Various states in Australia contribute significantly to the mining industry. Western Australia, for instance, hosts 98% of the country's iron ore and 60% of its gold reserves. The sector directly employs more than 20,000 people in the state. Similarly, New South Wales (NSW) is rich in minerals such as coal, gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, and lithium. Mining in NSW offers 40,000 jobs across the state.
The Northern Territory (NT) is another important region for mining in Australia, with world-class minerals including zinc, copper, lead, tungsten, lithium, vanadium, phosphate, and potash, as well as gold and uranium. NT's mining and manufacturing industry is valued at over $4 billion. Australia's mining industry is largely foreign-owned, with BHP and Rio Tinto being 76% and 83% foreign-owned, respectively.
The high employment numbers in the mining industry have had historical and social implications for Australia. Mining booms, particularly the gold rushes of the 1850s, encouraged population growth through immigration. The industry also provides high median earnings for workers, with an average annual income of $144,000, which is higher than other industries.
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Mining covers exploration and extraction of minerals, oil and gas
Mining in Australia is a small employing industry, with around 2.2% of workers having their main job in the industry. The mining industry covers the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil, and gas. Metal ore mining is the largest sector in the industry, employing 144,700 workers. The sector directly employs more than 20,000 people in Western Australia, where most jobs are located, along with Queensland. Employment is mainly in regional or remote locations like Pilbara and Gladstone.
Mining techniques can be divided into two common excavation types: surface mining and sub-surface (underground) mining. Today, surface mining is much more common, producing, for example, 85% of minerals (excluding petroleum and natural gas) in the United States. Surface mining involves removing surface vegetation, dirt, and bedrock to reach buried ore deposits. Techniques include open-pit mining, quarrying, strip mining, and mountaintop removal. Sub-surface mining, on the other hand, involves digging tunnels or shafts into the earth to reach these deposits. Ore and waste rock are brought to the surface through these tunnels and shafts. Drift mining, slope mining, and shaft mining are all methods of sub-surface mining, differentiated by the type of access tunnels used.
Mining in Australia targets a wide range of valuable minerals and ores. Western Australia hosts 98% of the country's iron ore and 60% of its gold reserves. The Northern Territory is rich in minerals such as zinc, copper, lead, tungsten, lithium, vanadium, phosphate, potash, gold, and uranium. South Australia exports copper, uranium, and zircon, with the latter being mined at the world's largest zircon mine, Iluka's Jacinth-Ambrosia. New South Wales offers coal, gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, and lithium. Tasmania, with its strong geological diversity, is home to Australia's largest tin deposit at the Renison Mine on the West Coast.
The Australian mining industry is recognised globally for its strength and growth. With new advances in technology and exploration, the future of the industry appears promising.
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Most jobs are in Western Australia and Queensland
Mining is a significant industry in Australia, contributing to the country's economy through export income, royalty payments, and employment. While mining activities take place across all states and territories, Western Australia and Queensland stand out as major centres of mining employment.
Western Australia, or WA, boasts an abundance of natural resources, including iron ore and gold reserves. WA hosts 98% of Australia's iron ore and approximately 60% of its gold reserves. The state's mining sector directly employs more than 20,000 people, with notable mining regions such as the Goldfields, Peel, and Pilbara contributing significantly to this figure. The state's mining industry is further enhanced by new mineral exploration, with a focus on lithium and vanadium to meet the growing demands of green energy alternatives and new battery technologies.
Queensland, or QLD, is another prominent mining state, renowned for its coal mines in the Bowen Basin. QLD is the world's largest supplier of silver and is home to some of the highest-grade graphite and rhenium deposits globally. The mining sector in QLD provides over 50,000 jobs and has a significant impact on the state's economy, contributing nearly $75 billion in 2018-19. The state is well-positioned to play a crucial role in strategic and critical minerals, including those used in new technologies such as electric vehicles.
In addition to WA and QLD, other states also contribute to mining employment in Australia. New South Wales (NSW) offers 40,000 mining jobs and is rich in minerals such as coal, gold, copper, and lithium. Tasmania (TAS) has been a significant mineral producer for over a century and is home to Australia's largest tin deposit, the Renison mine on the West Coast. The Northern Territory (NT) is another mineral-rich region, with seven high-quality mines operating and a geographical advantage for mineral exports due to its proximity to Asia.
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Drillers, miners and shot firers are the largest occupation
Mining is a significant industry in Australia, contributing to the economy through export income, royalty payments, and employment. In 2023, approximately 219,500 people were employed in the mining industry, making it one of the largest industries in the country. This number represents around 2.2% of the total labour force.
Among the various occupations within the mining industry, drillers, miners, and shot firers constitute the largest group. This occupation is integral to the mining process, which involves the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil, and gas. Drillers are responsible for operating drilling rigs to create boreholes or wells, which facilitate the extraction of these resources. Miners, on the other hand, specialise in extracting minerals and ores using various techniques such as underground or surface mining. Shot firers, also known as blasting engineers, play a crucial role in blasting operations by strategically placing and detonating explosives to facilitate the extraction process.
The work of drillers, miners, and shot firers is not without its challenges and risks. They often work in remote locations, such as Pilbara and Gladstone in Western Australia, where some of the largest mining sites are located. These regions are known for their rugged terrain and extreme weather conditions, requiring these workers to possess resilience and adaptability. Additionally, they must adhere to stringent safety protocols to mitigate the inherent dangers associated with mining, including the handling of heavy machinery and explosives.
The occupation of drillers, miners, and shot firers offers attractive financial prospects, with mining workers earning significantly higher wages than in many other industries. The median earnings for workers in this occupation are $2,649 per week, which is substantially higher than the industry median of $1,700. Additionally, mining pays more on average than any other industry in Australia, with an average annual salary of $144,000. This high earning potential reflects the specialised skills and demanding nature of the work.
The large number of drillers, miners, and shot firers in Australia can be attributed to the country's vast mineral resources. Western Australia, for instance, hosts 98% of the country's iron ore and 60% of its gold reserves. Similarly, South Australia is a significant producer of copper, uranium, and zircon, while Queensland contributes to coal mining. This abundance of natural resources drives the demand for workers in these occupations, ensuring the continued growth and development of Australia's mining industry.
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Mining is Australia's largest sector by share of national GDP
The mining industry directly employs more than 20,000 people in Western Australia, where 98% of the country's iron ore is located, and 60% of its gold reserves. In New South Wales, mining offers 40,000 jobs, and the state benefits from almost $2 billion in royalties. Queensland is another major mining region, and the industry is also present in South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. Overall, the resources sector directly employs 240,000 people, with a total of 1.1 million direct and indirect jobs in the mining and mining equipment, technology, and services (METS) sectors.
Mining covers the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil, and gas. Metal ore mining is the largest sector within the industry, employing 144,700 workers. Drillers, miners, and shot firers are the largest occupation within the industry. Mining pays more, on average, than any other industry, with an average annual salary of $144,000. 99% of mining workers earn above-award wages, and average weekly earnings increased by 25% between 2010-2011 and 2020-2021.
Australia is a world leader in the production and export of metals and minerals. The country is rich in natural resources, with Western Australia hosting significant deposits of iron ore and gold, and New South Wales boasting coal, gold, copper, silver, lead, zinc, cobalt, and lithium. The Northern Territory is also rich in minerals, including zinc, copper, lead, tungsten, lithium, vanadium, phosphate, potash, gold, and uranium.
The future of the Australian mining industry looks bright, with new advances in technology and exploration offering limitless opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
In the financial year 2023, approximately 219,500 people were employed in the mining industry in Australia.
Mining in NSW offers 40,000 jobs across the state.
The mining sector employed about 2% of the total labour force in 2021.
Most jobs are in Western Australia and Queensland.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics issues industry-specific labour data that provides the best available information for employment and wages in mining.
