The state’s mining trade employed a brand new peak of 135,000 employees final 12 months, though the expansion fee has slowed as operations had been taken offline amid difficult markets.
It marks the eight consecutive 12 months jobs within the mining trade has grown, with the most important contributors to full-time mining jobs being iron ore, adopted by gold and lithium.
However jobs in nickel and alumina declined after a number of operations throughout the state had been curtailed largely in response to weak market situations.
Nickel trade jobs fell by greater than 3,200 FTE, notable as a result of BHP mothballing its expansive Nickel West operations, IGO shuttering Cosmos and Forrestania mines and First Quantum Minerals shelving its Ravensthorpe nickel mine.
Jobs in alumina and bauxite fell by about 600 FTE because of Alcoa curbing its Kwinana refinery, in keeping with the state authorities.
In 2024, the speed of development cooled to three.7 per cent in comparison with the common of 6.6 per cent over the previous 5 years.
On releasing the statistics, the state authorities stated the numbers prompt mining employment could also be nearing its peak.
Final 12 months, there have been 4,263 on-site FTE positions recorded within the the exploration sector and an additional 7,870 on-site FTE positions within the petroleum trade.
By way of gross sales, iron ore got here out in entrance with $128 billion in gross sales, being the third highest outcome on report, adopted by liquefied pure gasoline gross sales of $36 billion.
There was $24 billion value of gross sales in gold, buoyed by geopolitical uncertainty and powerful costs for the secure haven commodity.
“Western Australia’s sources sector continues to set new benchmarks, with report employment and powerful gross sales driving financial development throughout the state,” Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael stated.
“As the worldwide economic system shifts, WA’s sources sector is effectively positioned to assist the vitality transition, important minerals improvement, and ongoing exploration.
“Greater than 135,000 folks are actually employed in our sources sector – the very best on report – displaying the trade’s important function in creating jobs for Western Australians.”
