Mining Engineers
Overview
Snapshot
Summary
Mining Engineers plan and direct the engineering aspects of locating and extracting minerals, petroleum and natural gas from the earth.
Tasks
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conducting preliminary surveys of mineral, petroleum and natural gas deposits with prospectors, Geologists, Geophysicists, other mineral scientists and other engineers to determine the resources present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process
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preparing operation and project cost estimates and production schedules, and reporting progress, production and costs compared to budget
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determining the most suitable methods of ore extraction taking account of such factors as depth of overburden, and attitude and physical characteristics of deposits and surrounding strata
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preparing plans for tunnels and chambers, location and construction of mine shafts, layout of mine development and the application of appropriate mining techniques, often using computer modelling
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assessing the natural, technical, financial and safety risks associated with the phases of the project development, construction and operations
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determining the safety of processes, order of extraction and safety of mine walls, evaluating the risk of slippage and advising on the prevention of slippage and rock falls
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planning and coordinating the utilisation of labour and equipment consistent with efficiency targets, statutes, safety guidelines and environmental conditions
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planning and conducting research and providing advice on engineering operations for the exploration, location and extraction of petroleum and natural gas
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determining location for drilling
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deciding on types of derrick and equipment including seabed platforms
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devising methods of controlling the flow of oil and gas from wells
Characteristics
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University
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Practical
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Analytical
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Enterprising
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Light
-
Medium
Outlook
JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:
- is expected to grow very strongly
- is likely to reach 18,800 by 2026.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.
Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.
Number of Workers
Year | Employment |
---|---|
2011 | 7,800 |
2012 | 13,300 |
2013 | 10,400 |
2014 | 12,600 |
2015 | 10,900 |
2016 | 10,600 |
2017 | 9,000 |
2018 | 8,000 |
2019 | 10,300 |
2020 | 11,100 |
2021 | 16,100 |
2026 | 18,800 |
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Earnings and hours
Working arrangements
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Around 91% of people employed as Mining Engineers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 25 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).
Full-time workers work an average of 50 hours per week in their main job. This is 6 hours more than the all jobs average (44 hours per week).
Median full-time earnings are $3,252 per week, this is much higher than the all jobs median ($1,593):
- 3 in 4 workers earn more than $2,628
- 1 in 4 earn more than $3,654
Median hourly earnings are $73, this is much more than the all jobs median ($41 per hour).
Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.
Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)
Earnings | Mining Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Full-Time Earnings | 3,252 | 1,593 |
Total Earnings | 0 | 0 |
Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Industries
Main industries
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Most Mining Engineers work in the Mining industry. They are also employed in industries like:
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Electricity, gas, water and waste services
- Construction.
Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, annual average 2021.
Regions
Employment across Australia
NSW
VIC
QLD
SA
WA
TAS
NT
ACT
Employment by State and Territory (% Share)
State | Mining Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
NSW | 12.5 | 31.6 |
VIC | 7.2 | 25.6 |
QLD | 25.8 | 20.0 |
SA | 5.8 | 7.0 |
WA | 46.9 | 10.8 |
TAS | 0.6 | 2.0 |
NT | 1.1 | 1.0 |
ACT | 0.1 | 1.9 |
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Around 70% of Mining Engineers live in capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 62%.
Western Australia and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their population size.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Worker profile
Age and gender
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The median age of Mining Engineers is 36 years. This is younger than the all jobs average of 40 years.
A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.
Females make up 13% of the workforce. This is 35 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.
Age Profile (% Share)
Age Bracket | Mining Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
15-19 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
20-24 | 4.9 | 9.3 |
25-34 | 38.6 | 22.9 |
35-44 | 28.2 | 22.0 |
45-54 | 16.8 | 21.6 |
55-59 | 5.6 | 9.0 |
60-64 | 3.5 | 6.0 |
65 and Over | 2.4 | 4.2 |
Median Age | 36 | 40 |
Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Employment Pathways
Education, training and experience
A bachelor degree in engineering majoring in mining or geotechnical engineering is needed to work as a Mining Engineer. Some workers have a postgraduate qualification.
Registration may be required in some states and territories. In addition, Engineers Australia has a non-compulsory National Engineering Register.
Visit
- Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
- ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
Highest Level of Education (% Share)
Type of Qualification | Mining Engineers | All Jobs Average |
---|---|---|
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate | 24.8 | 10.1 |
Bachelor degree | 61.7 | 21.8 |
Advanced Diploma/Diploma | 5.3 | 11.6 |
Certificate III/IV | 4.2 | 21.1 |
Year 12 | 3.0 | 18.1 |
Year 11 | 0.4 | 4.8 |
Year 10 and below | 0.6 | 12.5 |
Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Skills and Knowledge
Employers look for Mining Engineers who can communicate clearly, have strong interpersonal skills and work well in a team.
Skills
Skills can be improved through training or experience.
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70%
Reading comprehensionReading work related information.
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68%
MathematicsUsing maths to solve problems.
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68%
MonitoringKeeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.
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66%
Judgment and decision makingFiguring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.
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64%
Complex problem solvingNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
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64%
Critical thinkingThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
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63%
WritingWriting things for co-workers or customers.
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63%
Systems evaluationMeasuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
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61%
Operations analysisUnderstanding needs and product requirements to create a design.
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59%
SpeakingTalking to others.
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59%
Systems analysisFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect it.
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59%
Active learningBeing able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.
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57%
Active listeningListening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
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57%
ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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57%
Time managementManaging your own and other peoples' time to get work done.
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54%
Coordination with othersBeing adaptable and coordinating work with other people.
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54%
Management of financial resourcesFiguring out how money is needed to do something, and keeping track of the money that's being spent.
-
52%
InstructingTeaching people how to do something.
-
50%
Management of material resourcesProviding the right equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do work.
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50%
Quality control analysisDoing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.
Knowledge
These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.
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83%
Engineering and technologyUse engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.
-
74%
Technical designDesign techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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72%
MathematicsArithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.
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60%
PhysicsThe physical laws of matter, motion and energy, and how they interact through space and time.
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59%
Production and processingRaw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.
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58%
Administration and managementBusiness principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.
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58%
ChemistryChemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.
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58%
GeographyDescribing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.
-
58%
Law and governmentHow our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.
-
57%
English languageEnglish language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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57%
Public safety and securityUse of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.
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56%
Computers and electronicsCircuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
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53%
ClericalWord processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.
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53%
Building and constructionMaterials, and methods used to construct or repair houses, buildings, or other structures like highways and roads.
-
52%
MechanicalMachines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
-
47%
TransportationMoving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.
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44%
Customer and personal serviceUnderstanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.
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42%
Personnel and human resourcesRecruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.
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40%
Education and trainingCurriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
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38%
Economics and accountingEconomics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.
Abilities
Workers use these physical and mental abilities..
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73%
Oral comprehensionListen to and understand what people say.
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71%
Deductive reasoningUse general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.
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70%
Written comprehensionRead and understand written information.
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68%
Oral expressionCommunicate by speaking.
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66%
Inductive reasoningUse lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.
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66%
Written expressionWrite in a way that people can understand.
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64%
Problem spottingNotice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.
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64%
Sorting or orderingOrder or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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61%
CategorisingCome up with different ways of grouping things.
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61%
MathematicsChoose the right maths method or formula to solve a problem.
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61%
VisualizationImagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
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59%
Flexibility of closureSee a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.
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57%
OriginalityCome up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.
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55%
Near visionSee details that are up-close (within a few feet).
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54%
BrainstormingCome up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.
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54%
Far visionSee details that are far away.
-
50%
Speech recognitionIdentify and understand the speech of another person.
-
48%
Speech claritySpeak clearly so others can understand you.
-
48%
Selective attentionPay attention to something without being distracted.
-
45%
Perceptual speedUse your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Activities
These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.
-
82%
Planning and prioritising workDeciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.
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79%
Giving expert adviceProviding guidance and expert advice to management or other groups.
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79%
Researching and investigatingLooking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.
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77%
Making decisions and solving problemsUsing information to work out the best solution and solve problems.
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76%
Collecting and organising informationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.
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76%
Making sense of information and ideasLooking at, working with, and understanding data or information.
-
74%
Estimating amounts, costs and resourcesWorking out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.
-
72%
Looking for changes over timeComparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.
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70%
Keeping your knowledge up-to-dateKeeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.
-
69%
Checking compliance with standardsDeciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
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69%
Communicating within a teamGiving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.
-
69%
Drafting, laying out, and specifying partsDetailing and describing how devices, parts or equipment are to be made, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
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69%
Thinking creativelyUsing your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.
-
68%
Building good relationshipsBuilding good working relationships and keeping them over time.
-
66%
Coming up with systems and processesDeciding on goals and figuring out what you need to do to achieve them.
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64%
Communicating with the publicGiving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.
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63%
Managing payments and ordersMonitoring and controlling resources and the spending of money.
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60%
Explaining things to peopleHelping people to understand and use information.
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58%
Documenting or recording informationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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58%
Working with computersUsing computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Interests and demands
Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.
Interests
Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.
-
90%
AnalyticalIdeas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.
-
81%
PracticalPractical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
-
62%
EnterprisingStarting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.
-
52%
AdministrativeFollowing set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.
-
24%
CreativeWorking with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.
-
19%
HelpingWorking with people. Helping or providing service to others.
Values
-
83%
Working conditionsJob security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.
-
81%
SupportSupportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.
-
76%
IndependenceWork alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.
-
71%
AchievementResults oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.
-
71%
RecognitionAdvancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.
-
52%
RelationshipsServe and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Demands
-
98%
TelephoneTalk on the telephone.
-
96%
Electronic mailUse electronic mail.
-
90%
Face-to-face discussionsTalk with people face-to-face.
-
90%
Unstructured workHave freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.
-
88%
Contact with peopleHave contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.
-
86%
TeamworkWork with people in a group or team.
-
86%
Freedom to make decisionsHave freedom to make decision on your own.
-
84%
Being exact or accurateBe very exact or highly accurate.
-
84%
Indoors, heat controlledWork indoors with access to heating or cooling.
-
81%
Impact of decisionsMake decisions that have a large impact on other people.
-
77%
Time pressureWork to strict deadlines.
-
76%
Spend time sittingSpend time sitting at work.
-
74%
In an enclosed vehicle or equipmentWork in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).
-
73%
Frequent decision makingFrequently make decisions that impact other people.
-
72%
Letters and memosWrite letters and memos.
-
71%
Consequence of errorWork where mistakes have serious consequences.
-
70%
Responsible for outcomesTake responsibility for the results of other people's work.
-
70%
Repeating same tasksRepeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.
-
69%
Lead or coordinate a teamLead others to do work activities.
-
67%
Wear common protective or safety equipmentWear equipment like safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets.
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 17-2151.00 - Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers.
Links and downloads
Research and reports
The Skills Priority List provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for nearly 800 occupations nationally. Current labour market ratings are available for occupations at a state and territory level.
Downloads
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Occupation profiles data are available for download.
The Employment Projections are available for download.