There is an emerging growth in the Australian mining industry that has experienced a softer project activity. The Australian Resources and Energy Employers Association (AREEA) firmly believes that the sector will see continuous growth in the next five years and tens of thousands of jobs will be generated despite all challenges.
AREEA Forecast Highlights
The most recent Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast 2025-2030 by AREEA estimates that 96 large projects, totalling A$129.5 billion, will have their operations started between late 2025 and 2030. The developments are projected to generate 22,279 new operating-phase jobs, which will bring the national resources and energy workforce up by 7.1%.
The association observed that this is a good move, although the future outlook is the lowest five-year projection in over five years, which speaks to the cautiousness of the industry recovery. The present employment of about 317,400 individuals has already increased at a rate of about 10% compared to the year before, as the projects regain momentum after experiencing declines in previous years.
Regional Growth Signals
The expansion will be seen in various states, and Queensland is going to be one of the key ones. AREEA has found out 17 significant projects that are on the pipeline of the state, which is a huge improvement compared to the 11 projects of the past year. These are expected to create over 4,400 new employment opportunities at the production stage by 2030, a pointer of newfound confidence in the state’s resources sector by investors.
Queensland projects are forecast to generate more than 4,400 jobs over the next five years.
Iron ore continues to be a major source of export earnings in Western Australia, whereas the market of various critical minerals, including lithium, copper and rare earths, is facilitating the pursuit of diversification. South Australia, also, is becoming a copper and graphite exploration target, which also corresponds to global demand associated with the energy transition.
Job Market Outlook
Although the coal industry has been reported to cut back in some areas, especially in Queensland, the national workforce projection is promising. The Australian Financial Review reported that long-term prospects of the mining jobs are continuing to grow with new projects in the approval process and investment pipeline.
Skilled labour remains critical as the industry prepares for 22,000 new jobs by 2030.
AREEA emphasised that it will have to focus on planning the workforce and skills development to create more than 22,000 jobs. In the absence of sound policies to manage labour shortages, the report cautions that firms will find it hard to attract and maintain skilled employees in both the conventional and new commodities.
Investment and Confidence
The re-emerging activity in the project business is underpinned by the increased interest of investors, especially in projects related to the clean energy transition. Nickel, cobalt and lithium are all in demand as commodities used in batteries, and copper is still being invested in despite long-term supply shortages being predicted.
The report issued by AREEA indicates that mining firms are still wary although the investment sentiment is on the rise. It is also characterised by the moderate rate of growth due to the pressure of costs, volatile prices of commodities and the changing regulatory needs.
Red Tape Concerns
There is still concern among the industry groups about the system of regulation that is likely to slow down or even halt projects. According to Mining Weekly, up to 23,000 jobs may be jeopardised should too much red tape be allowed to slow down the on-time completion of new projects. AREEA has called on the government to make the approval easier and eliminate the needless hurdles so that project implementation can be done without unnecessary delays.
Another point by the association is that policy stability is vital in maintaining investor confidence, especially now when the world is highly competitive for mining capital.
Diversification Out of Coal and Iron Ore
According to the forecast provided by AREEA, there are 21 projects that are not within the conventional coal and iron ore industries, meaning there are commodities like alumina, graphite, phosphate and mineral sands. Such projects in themselves will create approximately 3,000 new jobs, and the Australian mining industry is getting very diverse.
Demand for critical minerals like lithium and copper is driving project diversification.
The diversification is a worldwide pattern with increasing demand for critical minerals as the markets shift to decarbonisation and renewable energy technology.
Also Read: WA New Rare Earth Deposit 2025: Surprise Breakthrough in WA Mining
Final Thoughts
The AREEA Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast 2025 2030 is an indicator that there is some optimism, but it is cautiously optimistic regarding the Australian mining industry. The growth estimates are less enthusiastic than in the previous years, but the fact that more than 22,000 jobs are created and about 100 projects are being developed indicates a good recovery trend.
Problems still exist – notably the regulatory complexity, labour shortages, and commodity price cycles – but the industry is setting itself up to grow in the long term. The resources sector in Australia is in a good position to contribute to the national economic growth and global energy transition ambitions through strategic investment, streamlined approvals and skills development.
FAQs
- What does the AREEA 2025–2030 forecast reveal about the mining industry?
The AREEA report projects 96 major projects worth A$129.5 billion, creating over 22,000 new jobs in Australia’s resources and energy sector. - Which states will see the most mining growth?
Queensland is expected to add more than 4,400 jobs from 17 projects, while Western Australia and South Australia will lead in critical minerals development. - What challenges could affect mining industry growth?
Regulatory red tape, labour shortages, commodity price volatility, and ESG pressures remain key risks to sustained expansion. - How is the mining industry diversifying?
Beyond coal and iron ore, 21 projects in alumina, graphite, phosphate, and mineral sands are forecast, highlighting a shift towards critical minerals. - Why is workforce planning important for mining?
The sector needs skilled workers to fill 22,000 new roles. Without effective training and policies, companies may face significant labour shortages.
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