The Australian Government has released a new strategy to help Australians take up jobs in the resources industry and to ensure Australia has the skilled workers needed to meet future demand.

The resources sector represents half of Australia’s exports and directly employs over 260,000 people in Australia, while supporting more than one million other jobs across the economy.

Employment in the sector has grown by 8.5 per cent between February and November 2020, creating over 20,000 new jobs, and this growth trajectory is expected to continue.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, the Hon. Keith Pitt MP, said the strategy demonstrates the support and opportunities for careers in a thriving sector.

“There are opportunities across both cities and regions, with employees working in hi-vis, lab coats and office spaces. This strategy supports Australians to get the skills needed to take up these jobs,” the Minister said.

“The resources sector has been a standout through the global COVID pandemic.”

“It’s continued to grow despite the pandemic and border disruptions at a time when it is more important than ever that Australians have access to jobs and opportunities,” he noted.

“We particularly want to ensure that people living in regional communities have opportunities to study, train and upskill to take up these jobs.”

Australia’s National Resources Workforce Strategy brings together relevant Government programs under three themes to shape the workforce of the future – opportunity, participation and education.

Opportunity: As the sector evolves and expands into new commodities, the Government is supporting the sector to innovate, be competitive and create more, diverse jobs that are safer and more rewarding.

Participation: The Government is providing a range of programs to encourage and support Australians to take up these jobs and relevant education and training, in particular by those living in regional areas, women, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Quality: Ensuring that education and training systems remain cutting-edge, aligned to industry’s evolving skills needs, and broadly available to all Australians.

“The sector relies on certain skills to unlock new resources potential and productivity and to maintain our status as a world-leading supplier of resources and energy,” Minister Pitt added.

“This new Strategy aims to help the sector meet its need for skills, and to promote resources job opportunities and training to Australian workers.”

The full Australia’s National Resources Workforce Strategy can be found on the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources website.