The Queensland resources sector has again defied the COVID-19 global pandemic by adding 10,259 jobs – or more than one extra job every hour – over the 12 months to February this year, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data released today.
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the ABS data showed a 15 percent increase in direct jobs employed in the resources sector to reach 76,854 across Queensland over the past 12 months.
"Importantly, these results are for the period when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, which of course had an impact on how our industry operated and how our markets responded," he said.
"It shows the resources sector is resilient and it is strong.
"To be able to add 10,259 direct jobs in the circumstances we've had is an extraordinary outcome for our sector, and a tribute to the companies and hard-working men and women in resources, and our supportive suppliers and communities across Queensland," he said.
"What it means is Queensland's resources sector - including explorers and producers in coal, metals, oil or gas - added more than an extra job every hour over the past 12 months."
Mr Macfarlane said the QRC and its members were proud the increased number of jobs included more female employees and more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.
According to the latest QRC data, female participation in the resources sector has increased by 25 percent from 5,472 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions in 2018-19 to 6,841 FTEs in
2019-20.
The increase in female participation in non-traditional resource sector roles was even more significant, rising 30 percent from 4,684 FTE positions in 2018-19 to 6,083 FTEs in 2019-20.
Indigenous employment in the resources sector in Queensland increased from 4 percent to
4.8 percent, which is the highest rate of any private sector in the State.
