Brute force is no longer the decider for professions in the resources industry. It's all about engineers, geologists and trained professionals...

1. 3 Options to
Address the
Australian Skills Shortage

2. 1
Training and apprenticeships

3. Advances in technology mean strength and brute
force are no longer requirements for resources jobs.
Positions for professional
engineers, geologists, metallurgists and skilled trades
people now dominate job listings.
These roles also require lengthy training periods - an
engineer is not ‘experienced’ until they’ve completed
four years of university followed by a 3- to 4-year
graduate program.

4. 2
Relocating the Australian workforce

5. The resources industry tends to operate in remote
locations with little residential infrastructure and
accommodation.
This is especially true in the harsh climate of
Australia’s North West where massive mining and
energy projects are currently under way.
Despite many incentive programs to convince the
current Australian workforce to relocate to Western
Australia, very few workers have taken advantage of
the educational and financial incentives to do so.

6. Instead, many employers and employees settle for fly-
in, fly-out (FIFO) arrangements allowing workers to
reside in their home environment with long stretches
living on site.
Until more real communities are developed around
project sites, FIFO is the only real option for workers
unwilling or unable to relocate.
Find out more about FIFO jobs in Australia.

7. 3
Relying on skilled migration

8. Where skills are in high-demand and short
supply, employers have come to rely on overseas
migrant workers.
The 457 visa is a temporary residency visa (long-stay)
which allows businesses to sponsor skilled workers for
employment.
Recent research by Edith Cowan University (ECU)
explored the costs and benefits of employing
migrant workers as one way to address skilled
labour shortages.

9. One startling discovery in the 457 Visa Workers in the
Western Australian Resources Industry report was the
cost of bringing skilled workers into the country.
“The data suggests the majority of the costs
associated with employing workers on 457 visas
are incurred by the industry with costs ranging
between $7,000 and $65,000 for each
individual worker.”

10. Clearly, the skills shortage is a complex problem
requiring both time and money to resolve.
As the global demand for Australian resources
continues, employers use a variety of solutions to
keep their projects on track.

11. For more information and the latest mining jobs visit
www.miningoilandgasjobs.com