The resources sector employed an average of 124,010 people during the 2018-19 financial year, more than 12,000 people than the previous year, making it one of the largest employers in Western Australia.
“The number of people employed by the resources sector is higher than at any point in Western Australia’s recorded history. Looking back 10 years ago, the sector was employing less than 70,00 people, there are now more than 50,000 extra people gainfully employed,” said Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME) CEO Paul Everingham.
“The Western Australian resources sector is well above the national average by employing a much higher proportion of workers at 6.7 per cent, compared to the national average of less than 2 per cent.
“There’s a number of major projects in the pipeline or underway which have bolstered the employment figures, including BHP’s South Flank mine, Fortescue Metals Group’s Iron Bridge development and Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri mine.
“A survey of 41 of CME’s members revealed that in 2017-18, the total direct economic contribution to Western Australia was $38 billion which included salaries and wages, payments to government, business purchases and community contributions to 772 organisations. And more than 13,650 WA businesses were directly supported.”
