Factsheet: Unpacking the role of the resources sector in harnessing and developing Australia’s STEM capability

The resources sector makes a vital contribution as the anchor for Australia’s science, research and industrial base. As the sector undergoes a structural evolution to capture a greater share of the minerals, materials and manufacturing value chain, new research commissioned by AusIMM outlines the workforce demands, demographics and mobility trends for industry.

This new research by the Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre (BCEC), commissioned by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy demonstrates how our sector can lift Australia’s broader science and industrial capability by developing talent and building a workforce with expertise across a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, with participation from across our community.

Engaging a breadth of STEM and other professional talent will allow our sector to extend its position as a trusted global supplier of minerals, materials and mining expertise. This is about more than a benefit to industry; it is about contributing to a national endeavour that strengthens key relationships, builds sovereign capability and underwrites Australia’s place in a changing world.

Key findings

• The strongest growth in the mining workforce will be at the professional level
• Female graduates, professionals and skilled migrants represent the greatest sources of future technical and leadership talent
• Resources offer some of the highest wage premia for training and education of any sector within our economy
• Early career experience programs for students and early professionals, alongside new degree and course models, are effective means of raising awareness and interest in resources careers
• Traditional mining disciplines will be joined by specialists in data analytics, automation, decarbonisation and social and environmental performance

Read the full report here