Employment in the resources sector has grown by 8.5 per cent between February 2020 and November 2020, creating over 20,000 new jobs while the nation faced challenges associated with COVID-19.

This growth trajectory is set to continue, so the government has launched the national resources workforce strategy, bringing education and training together to support future participation and growth.

Key areas of opportunity within the strategy include planning for job creation and skills demand, supporting local employment, especially in regional communities, providing opportunities for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and increasing availability of resources-related training.

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt said the growth of the sector during COVID-19 highlights the importance of resources as a standout industry in Australia.

“The resources sector has been a standout through the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Pitt said.

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

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

The Federal Government has already funded a $30 million School of Mining and Manufacturing at Central Queensland University and invested $585.3 million into vocational education and training, including a mining skills organisation pilot.

This is part of the government’s delivering skills for today and tomorrow package.

“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,” Pitt said.

“This new strategy aims to help the sector meet its needs for skill and to promote resources job opportunities and training to Australian workers.”

The resources sector directly employees more than 260,000 Australians and supports over 1 million other jobs across the economy.