MINING companies are in full recruitment drive after new modelling showed another 8000 skilled workers will be needed in WA’s resources sector following the state’s hard border closure.
The modelling, released by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, warns of a looming shortage for key skills such as traditional trades and experienced technicians, front line supervisors, maintenance crew and safety and medical support services.
Mining heavyweights including Rio Tinto and BHP are on the hunt for fresh talent to plug the skills gap, which is expected to last between 12 to 18 months due to the continued ban on travel.
Rio will invest almost $60m in training and development in WA next year when it will take on another 150 people as part of its 2021 intake of graduates, apprentices, trainees and vacation students.
The company’s iron ore business in WA has already hired more than 500 employees and contractors locally.
CMEWA chief executive Paul Everingham said the resources sector had reaffirmed its commitment to employing WA workers where possible to spearhead the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
Companies were quick to relocate thousands of FIFO workers back to WA with the vast majority of the state’s 5000-strong interstate workforce heading home before the April border closure.
“The skills migration to the west brought on by COVID-19 has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Mr Everingham said.
“Many of our members have also been recruiting for hundreds of skilled roles from within WA over the past few months.
“We’re already seeing high demand in traditional trades and experienced technicians, front line supervisors and maintainers such as heavy diesel fitters, and professional engineers, geologists metallurgists and technology specialists.”
There is also increased demand for safety, emergency and medical support service workers.
CME’s forecast workforce modelling shows an additional 8049 workers will be required in WA to meet peak recovery demand through to the end of 2020.
BHP has also filled hundreds of new positions locally for roles such as machinery and production operators, truck and ancillary equipment drivers, excavator operators, boilermakers, electricians, trades assistants, cleaners and warehousing.
BHP recently welcomed 125 new apprentices and trainees into its WA ranks as part of a new national training program that will help to bolster Australia’s skills base and create new career pathways into the mining sector.
Fortescue Metals Group has continued to run its Vocational Training and Employment Centre program through the COVID-19 period resulting in 21 Aboriginal trainees securing full-time employment, joining 900 former graduates.
