Retaining and gaining women in the mining industry

The mining industry has been urged to rise to the challenge of recruiting, training and retaining more women to support the increasing demand for skilled labour in Queensland’s resource industries.

Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said the mining industry had the opportunity to foster social change within the sector, including greater employment opportunities for women.

He told the Recruitment, Training and Retention for Women in Mining conference in Brisbane that in Queensland women made up 36 percent of natural and physical scientists, 17.2 percent of IT professionals and 7.2 percent of engineers.

“Yet women make up only 6 percent of the mining workforce, and that includes administrative staff,” Mr Wilson said.

“That is why I’ve asked my Department of Mines and Energy to start acquiring additional employee data such as gender and the number of full-time and part-time employees at mines in Queensland.

“This will enable the department to establish a statistical benchmark to record the number of women employed at mines in Queensland, as well as their employment status,” he said.

“Over 50,000 people are employed in the state’s mining and minerals processing industries and an estimated additional 160,000 are in indirect employment supporting the mining industry,” Mr Wilson said.

“The mining industry needs to adopt a more flexible, innovative approach to increase the number of women working in the industry.

“Women have a vital, long-term role in the full range of jobs in the mining industry,” Mr Wilson said.

“They could also play a significant part in re-enforcing the positive links between mining companies and the community.”

Mr Wilson said a report ‘Unearthing New Resources’ showed that, over the next 10 years, the minerals industry in Australia would need an additional 7,700 professionals, 27,000 tradespersons and 22,000 semi-skilled workers, in addition to the already recognised shortage of tradespersons and professionals.

“I encourage the mining industry to support innovative solutions to address skill shortages in the mining industry, and to embrace and support the cultural changes within the industry to support the retention of women,” Mr Wilson said.

Media inquiries: Brooke Johnson (07)3224 7332