Workforce Scoping Study

RESA recently released its report on the Workforce Scoping Study conducted on the Eyre Peninsula. The report estimates the existing mines of OneSteel and Iluka will be joined by at least seven new operations over the next five years. This opens many opportunities for job seekers as employers hiring intentions show a steady growth of around 400 resources jobs a year, over the next five years. Conservative estimates of new jobs associated with resources related construction and infrastructure would lead to a further 3000 jobs in the same period.

If the seven projects studied include OneSteel's Project Magnet in the Middleback Ranges; Iluka's Jacinth /Ambrosia in the Eucla Basin on the West Coast; Iron Clad's Willchery Hill Stage 1 project near Kimba; Iron Road at Warramboo; Centrex's Bungalow prospect and Lower Eyre projects including the Eyre Iron venture at Koppio; Lincoln Minerals Gum Flat Stage 1 and 2; Minotaur at Poochera and Uranium SA's Samphire project.

MORE than 10,000 workers will be needed in the next five years for the mining industry on the Eyre Peninsula

This number is on top of 25,000 workers already estimated as needed for a larger Olympic Dam.

The Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance predicts up to 2000 jobs, needed directly in mining and processing, will be created in the region over the next five years.

Its analysis of the potential resources sector workforce found another 3000 jobs will be necessary in engineering support roles.

A further three to four service jobs will be created for each mining job, taking the total number of workers needed to at least 11,000.

RESA Chief Executive Phil de Courcey said the stereotypical image of a "mine employee being a burly male in a hard hat in dirty clothes" could not be further from the truth.

"Research we conducted late last year covering opportunities in Whyalla and the Eyre Peninsula identified careers such as accountants, surveyors, various classes of engineers, environmental scientists, laboratory workers and OH&S professionals as being among the careers most likely to be in demand in the coming decade," Mr de Courcey said.

He said the challenge was to plan ahead for recruitment.

The Advertiser

CareerOne Editor Cara Jenkin
From:The Advertiser
February 17, 2012 11:00PM

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