IT TAKESSKILL
balancing job opportunities in the mining sector
The public perception of countless employment opportunities in the resource sector inWestern Australia is juxtaposed
against the reality of a skilled labour shortage. The dream of securing a great paying job in the mining industry is
short-lived for many, with competition fierce for non-skilled employment vacancies. The reality of attracting skilled
labour and building local capacity to fill these positions in the future is paramount.
In this article, Nicole Roocke, Director of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME), talks about initiatives to
secure future employment for local people and the current need to broaden the horizon for a bright future for all.
NICOLE ROOCKE
DIRECTOR
CHAMBER OF MINERALS
AND ENERGY OF WA
There are a range of questions potential employees need to ask themselves before
they put their hand up for one of the many opportunities in Western Australian
resources sector. Am I prepared to take on a fly-in, fly-out roster? Would I be
willing to live in a regional community? Am I fully aware of the conditions and
lifestyle? And most importantly, have I got the skills and experience needed in
the resources sector?
The abundant opportunities and high salaries are regularly discussed around
water coolers and barbeques where the phrase, ‘I’ll just get a job on the mines’
is commonly heard.
In reality the sector faces challenges in finding skilled labour, and roles
like truck drivers and kitchen hands are filled quickly, often with hundreds of
applicants being unsuccessful.
A quick scan of popular employment websites shows the majority of
opportunities in the sector are predominantly for skilled roles; engineers,
metallurgists, project managers and key tradespeople.
The CME forecasts that over the next few years the sector’s workforce will
transition into operational roles, as construction finishes on projects.
The WA resources sector has been investing in education and training
initiatives to increase the supply of skilled labour needed for our projects.
Data provided by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research shows
that apprentice and trainee numbers in the WA resources sector has increased
by 72.5% from July-September 2009 through to July-September 2011.
The sector also has the highest retention rate of any other industry. In 2010,
only 22% of apprentices in the resources sector withdrew from their course,
compared to 45% of apprentices across all industries.
WA has never been very good in attracting large numbers of people to move
across the Nullarbor, despite jobs losses on the east coast and WA’s opportunities
and great way of life.
In 2011, WA’s population grew by 67,420 persons to just over 2.3 million
with net overseas migration contributing 58%, natural increase contributing
29%,
while interstate migration only counted for 12.5%.
For the resources sector to continue to lead the national economy and deliver
benefits to the community,
new projects have to be
developed. Ensuring there is
an adequate pool of skilled
labour for these projects is
therefore vital.
The preference for all
resource projects will be
training and employing
local people first, however,
targeted skilled migration
has an important role to play
in filling gaps in the skilled
workforce.
The
first
Enterprise
Migration
Agreement
(
EMA) was approved for
the Roy Hill project and it
will cover key trades such
as electricians, mechanical
fitters,
scaffolders
and
boiler makers.
Skilled
migrants will
only be recruited after
efforts to employ Australians
have been exhausted and importantly, they will receive the same wages
and conditions as Australian workers. It is hoped that with the first EMA
approved, there will be continued refinement to enable other major projects to
access the benefits of these agreements.
Integrity and transparency in the skilled migration system is really
important. Rather than relaxing the provisions, we want a more efficient
process so that we get the right skills at the right time.
Photo courtesy of Western Areas NL
MINESITE 2012
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