Australian Mining Industry to Add 22,000 Workers Despite Coal Job Cuts

Highlights:

• 22,300 new workers needed for upcoming resource projects worth $129.5 billion.
• Queensland faces coal sector layoffs but still requires 4,400 additional staff by 2030.
• Western Australia added 9,000 jobs, with gold mines a key contributor.

Sector braces for $130 billion pipeline of projects

The Australian resources and energy sector is expected to require more than 22,000 additional workers by the end of this decade to support projects valued at nearly $130 billion, according to the latest report from the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association (AREEA). At the time of writing, shares of BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) were trading at $41.585, up 3.34%.

As of May, the industry directly employed 317,400 people, an increase of almost 30,000 compared with the previous year. Despite recent layoffs in Queensland’s coal sector, the report forecasts strong long-term demand for skilled workers across major resource projects nationwide.

Queensland outlook mixed

Queensland’s mining and energy sector alone is projected to require 4,400 additional workers by 2030. Around 96 large-scale projects worth $129.5 billion are expected to commence production between 2025 and 2030, creating opportunities for 22,300 jobs. However, this projection marks a decline from last year’s forecast of 108 projects and more than 27,000 jobs, reflecting the impact of global competition and regulatory pressures.

The report comes in the wake of 1,200 job losses last week at coal operations run by BHP, Anglo American, and QCoal. While the state government has dismissed calls for a reduction in coal royalties, industry leaders warn the current tax regime is eroding investor confidence.

National workforce trends

Beyond Queensland, Western Australia remains a key growth engine. The surge in gold prices is expected to generate 2,400 new jobs across 11 gold mines, contributing to an estimated 9,000 new workers needed over the next five years.

Despite mining’s resilience, broader labour market data points to slowing employment growth, with Australia recording 5,400 job losses in August against market expectations of a 21,000-job increase.

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