Engineering opportunities in the resources and mining sectors
Australia’s resources and mining sectors are still booming, so prospects for engineers in these sectors are looking extremely bright.
The increase in global consumption and demand over recent years has underpinned much of the current boom in the Australasian minerals and energy sectors. Exploration in Australia’s minerals and energy sector in 2006–07 totalled $3.9 billion — 73% higher than the average over the past 25 years.
Throughout the country there is a similar story of strong growth, increased investment and overall market confidence. The mining industry in Western Australia, in particular, is flourishing, with great expansion in iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.
Elsewhere throughout the country, the strong coal price has strengthened both the New South Wales and Queensland markets. Similarly, rising commodity prices have driven the mining and minerals industries in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Victoria to a peak not matched in recent years.
Spotlight on Western Australia and New South Wales
The mining industry in Western Australia is booming with around $50 billion worth of projects in operation or in planning. Growth in this state is being driven largely by the iron, steel, oil and gas sectors. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, among others, are undertaking rapid expansion of their iron ore operations. Growth in LNG projects, and strong productivity among alumina, gold and nickel producers is also helping to fortify the market.
Western Australia has one of the most productive, diversified and responsible resources sectors in the world.
- In 2007 the estimated value of WA's mineral and petroleum industry reached $53.1 billion. This represented a 7% increase ($3.6 billion) increase compared to the previous year.
- Commodity sales are dominated by output from the petroleum and iron ore sectors, which each make up over 30% of total sales value.
- The WA resources sector has developed significant expertise in minimising the impact of it operations over the life cycle from target generation to mine closure and rehabilitation. This expertise is enabling companies to reduce the footprint of their operations and improve management of energy, water and waste.
- WA resources companies are offering strong career paths, innovative work practices and a range of employee amenities that attract and secure staff.
- The resources sector has delivered commodity sales worth just over $53 billion and royalties values at over $2.1 billion to the state government in 2007.
The New South Wales minerals industry, which comprises coal, petroleum, and metallic and industrial minerals exploration and production, is also prospering. It is one of the biggest sectors in NSW and produces around $12 billion of resources each year, and exports worth in excess of $8 billion.
The outlook for engineers
Australia’s minerals and mining industries are experiencing a golden era. The major upturn in productivity in recent
years has understandably translated into increased demand for workers.
Industry experts estimate Australia’s minerals industry will need an extra 70,000 workers over the next decade, which represents a staggering 76% increase in employment. And even though most of this demand for workers is in trades and semi-skilled positions, it’s estimated that over the next decade Australia’s resources sector will need more than 7600 additional professionals. Included in this group of desired professionals will be mining, metallurgical, minerals,
resources, and construction engineers.
The strong demand for mining employees is evident in graduate employment rates, with Graduate Careers Australia's GradStats December 2007 survey showing that 98.7% of mining engineering graduates were in full-time employment four months after graduating.
Salary
According to Engineers Australia’s 2007 Salary and Benefits survey, the average base salary for a graduate mining engineer in 2007, across the private and public sectors, was $55,000 (although anecdotal evidence has many graduate mining engineers on much higher starting salaries). With only a couple of years experience under their belt, mining engineers can be earning anything from $130,000 upwards.
Find out more
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, www.ausimm.com.au