Battle for staff rages in inland Queensland

Black gold versus the precious metal. North versus south. FIFO versus local staff. Hardrock versus coal. A battle for mining staff is raging in inland Queensland in a struggle for what seems are very few experienced and available operators, tradies and professional miners. The Federal Government’s Labour Market Information Portal reports that Mount Isa’s Population is just over 30,600 with more than 21,140 employed. Under half the Indigenous population of 4,810 is employed. The overall unemployment rate is around 4.2 percent. The Central Queensland Statistical region, which covers the southern Bowen Basin, has an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent representing 6,400 with 113,500 holding a job. Mining accounts for 9.5 percent of employment in the region. Central Queensland coal mining operations were luring local miners with bigger pay cheques said Mount Isa Councillor Kim Coghlan. Structural issues with attracting staff inland While not talking on behalf of the local government, Councillor Coghlan, said competition for workers was coming from a number of areas and taking a toll on all local employers including the Glencore-owned Mount Isa Mines. “I know one of the biggest problems is, they're going against the coal fields with dollars,” Cr Coghlan said. “The coal fields can offer a lot more dollars. “Also, with COVID I think a lot of industries have worked out that you can work remotely. You don't have to actually be on site to work in your job. Mount Isa Mines. The photographer is Rob Parsons - Through The Looking Glass Studio. “A classic example is your engineers. So engineers can stay on the coast with their family, earn good dollars with the mines, but only have to travel out, I don't know, once a month, once every six weeks, because they don't need to be on site. “So, that's just two of the challenges that Glencore would probably be facing at the moment.” Glencore holds regular community consultation in the city and Cr Coghlan said the latest has been explaining the shift to seven day on/off rosters, new mining techniques and other measures to save costs. The lack of available staff was hurting all employers in the city said Cr Coghlan. “It's not just Mount Isa (Mines), it's a lot of other mines, and that it's a fly in, fly out.” “It's a constant struggle trying to keep all our community groups going, our sporting groups going. “But you have to be mindful too, the mines are in a very competitive market, so they've got to do what they've got to do.”

Battle for staff rages in inland Queensland

Industry Queensland

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