Career Profiles

Career Profiles

Minerals

Introduction – Careers in the Minerals Industry

Overview of the Australian Minerals Industry

The minerals industry is a vital component of the Australian economy. Mining activities hold an important place in the history of Australia’s development and that trend continues today as the industry continues to make substantial contributions to the nation’s income, exports and employment.

As a major exporter of resource commodities, the Australian minerals industry has grown significantly in recent times in both absolute terms and relative to other industries. The increase in demand for minerals, particularly emanating from China, has meant the industry has been in a boom phase for the past couple of years and growth seems set to continue.

There is currently a significant skills shortage in the industry, representing strong career and employment opportunities. The minerals industry encompasses a wide range of operations, from the search for and mining of minerals, to the processing and marketing of mineral products. Activities include exploration, mining (extraction), processing, marketing, environmental management, community and indigenous relations and administration. Career opportunities for graduates interested in entering the various facets of the mining industry are highly diverse.

Minerals industry employees are drawn from professional, technical, trade, semi-skilled and support fields. Directly and indirectly, some 320,000 people are employed in the minerals industry, many of whom are in sparsely populated, remote and regional Australia.

Graduate Employment and Salary Information

Graduate roles in the minerals industry are currently amongst the highest paid of all graduates jobs! The Hays Salary Survey gives a great indication of what salary you can expect to receive as a graduate in the minerals industry and also what you can earn throughout your career – go to www.hays.com.au/salary and go to the Resources and Mining pdf file.

For more information about the destinations and starting salaries for graduates in the minerals industry, visit the GradsOnline web resource, which can be found at: www.gradsonline.com.au . GradsOnline provides state-by-state and gender breakdowns of industry activity, five year trends in graduate salaries and activities and salary comparisons with other fields of study.

Minerals Industry Courses Offered in Australia

There are a myriad of programs and courses, from undergraduate level right through to masters or PhD that offer a range of skills applicable in the minerals sector. A list of undergraduate programs and courses offered at Australian universities related to the minerals industry can be found on The AusIMM Careers webpage (www.ausimm.com.au/education ).

For a comprehensive list of all university programs, including honours, combined and double degrees and postgraduate programs, please visit the individual university school and department websites or www.myfuture.edu.au which allows prospective students to search for courses by Study Field, Industry, Attendance Mode, Entry Requirements, Education Level and Region.

Want to read more about careers in the minerals industry? Download a complete copy of Minerals Industry Careers by clicking on the link below: