AusIMM revealed: Results of Professional Workforce Survey 2018

According to Mining News Pro - Back in September, AusIMM invited all of its members to complete the survey and received 1593 responses, providing a broadly representative sample of resources professionals.In addition to collating employment and remuneration data among resources professionals, the 2018 survey included questions relating to volunteering, diversity and inclusion, and professional development.

The survey points to a strong upturn in employment across a range of occupations and levels. However, in most categories, salaries have not increased significantly – as is the case in the wider Australian economy.  

A significant improvement in unemployment statistics was recorded over the past two years with the figure down from 14.1% to 2.6%. Australian unemployment levels were more volatile than in other regions in 2016 but are now 3% lower in 2018.

By professional discipline (Figure 3), AusIMM found that geotechnical engineers ‘got back to work’ in 2016, with geoscience members doing so slightly later, and mining engineers were really getting back to low unemployment rates this year. Metallurgists, materials and chemical engineers have only more recently reached essentially full employment, which likely reflects the fact their roles are generally process-focused as opposed to focused on mine establishment.