Mining sector welcomes return of skilled migrants

Reopening skilled migration will be crucial to securing an enormous pipeline of projected growth in the resources industry, a peak mining employers' group says. Australian Resources and Energy Group AMMA’s annual workforce forecasting report has identified 98 projects that are advanced in planning stages and could create more than 100,000 jobs between now and 2026. AMMA chief executive Steve Knott. Chief executive Steve Knott said that without access to supplementary international skilled labour, even in the very small numbers utilised by resources employers historically, many of these projects may be deemed unviable to proceed,” Mr Knott said.“The national Labour Market Portal also predicts key resources and energy occupations – including mining and petroleum engineers, geophysicists, skilled operators and trade technicians – will remain in very tight supply over coming years. “There needs to be a circuit breaker to the present unsustainable situation of Australian industries cannibalising each other for talent. This is occurring across the skills spectrum from operators and tradespeople to chefs, hospitality professionals and cleaners. “The arrival of skilled migrant employees in some of these key occupations will ease the great anxieties of employers on how they will both continue to resource existing operations and secure the skills required to support expansion and new project growth.” Skills shortage No.1 concern in recent Qld survey The Queensland Resources Council's most recent State of the Sector report showed a combination of COVID-related border restrictions, less skilled migration and interstate competition for workers had created a perfect storm of labour shortages at a time of continued growth across the sector. The issue had jumped from No.12 on the list to No.1 in the group's latest CEO sentiment survey. The Federal Government has announced changes coming into effect in December that will reopen the international border to skilled and student visa holders. Under these arrangements, travellers must: Be fully vaccinated with a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognised by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)Hold a valid visa for one of the eligible visa subclassesProvide proof of their vaccination statusPresent a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken within three days of departure. The government said the return of skilled workers and international students to Australia would further cement the nation's economic recovery, providing the valuable workers the economy needed and supporting the important education sector. Related: Skills crunch threatens state’s resource sector Mr Knott said the announcement on international skilled immigration was very welcome news for Australia’s resources and energy industry, which had been crippled by skills shortages. “In daily conversations with AMMA’s resources and energy members, working in all sub-sectors right across the nation, finding the right number of skilled employees continues to be the most pressing and most severe challenge," he said.“Despite leading the nation’s economic performance throughout COVID-19, difficulties in attracting skilled employees in the scale required has presented a very real risk to future resources and energy project growth and the enormous role it will play in Australia’s fiscal recovery.”

Mining sector welcomes return of skilled migrants

Industry Queensland

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