The importance of Queensland’s minerals and energy sector to the state economy has never been more important, with concerns about the rising cost of living and interest rate increases uppermost in people’s minds. It’s a worrying time for many.

The best way to weather economic pressure and uncertainty is to have a well-paid job with good conditions, which is what the resources sector offers thousands of Queenslanders every day. Resources companies currently support more than 422,000 jobs across our coal, metals and gas industries, and our employees receive the highest, average income out of any industry in Australia. 

To keep our employees safe, our industry also has a safety record that is the envy of every other mining jurisdiction in the world. Our policy is that every injury or fatality in the workplace is unacceptable, and resources companies are committed to an ongoing, continuous cycle of safety improvements. We know the best way we can keep people safe at work is to keep talking, evolving and improving our practices.  

There’s a lot going on in our sector, but what hasn’t changed is we’re still producing, employing and exporting Queensland products to the rest of the world.

Our state would certainly be a very different place if we didn’t have the prosperity of the resources sector to rely on, which has proven to be true throughout the decades. People and businesses in resources communities – who have been through the ups and downs of commodity price cycles and industry downturns – know too well how much the prosperity of our state is linked to the strength of the resources sector.

The good news is that resources companies are currently recruiting skilled and unskilled workers for a wide range of roles, so people looking for a well-paid job should check out what’s available. There are many different pathways to a trade or tertiary-based career in resources, so if you don’t have the skills you need to get the job you want, I encourage you to do some research.

The QRC has also launched an exciting new digital campaign called Shape Your Future to encourage young people to consider a career in the minerals and energy sector. If you know any young people about to graduate from Year 12 who are looking to change the world – and set themselves up financially for life – tell them about a career in resources!

Ian Macfarlane

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive