What are the most in-demand roles in mining?
The mining sector is a major employer in Australia. It provides several fascinating career opportunities and boosts the high-requirement workforce.
There are plenty of attractive mining jobs, such as electricians, site electricians, heavy equipment operators, and underground miners. These positions come with a competitve salary, future, and opportunity.
The mining industry in Australia is reporting a steep incline compared to the rest of the industries. Employment is expected to grow 5.9%, representing a potential 15,900 new jobs by the end of two years.
Australian mining is already on the cusp of leading the responsible resource extraction charge worldwide, with access to some great mines through a focus on innovation, automation, and sustainability.
We then asked ourselves what mining’s most in-demand roles are.
Our latest blog in our in-demand series looks at the jobs employers are most interested in hiring for and the responsibilities of someone who wants to apply for such positions.
Drill and Blast Operator
Drill and blast operators play a pivotal role in the mining industry. They require precision and attention to detail when drilling holes in rock formations, loading and handling explosives, overseeing blasting operations and ensuring team members within the mine remain safe during potentially dangerous situations.
Working closely with mining engineers and geologists, drill and blast operators optimise mineral extraction while minimising environmental impact and costs on the operation.
To become a drill and blast operator in the mining industry, you will need the following qualifications according to training.gov.au:
- Certificate III in Drilling Operations
- Certificate IV in Surface Coal Mining (Open Cut Examiner)
- Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations
- Certificate III in Drilling Operations
- Certificate IV in Surface Coal Mining (Open Cut Examiner)
- Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations
At an entry-level role, it’s expected to have finished your high school education or equivalency, strong communication and teamwork skills, and the versatility to be on call when required for drilling and blast operations.
Heavy Equipment Operators
Heavy equipment operators use a wide range of machinery on the mining site, including heavy-duty trucks, bulldozers, excavators, loaders, graders, and drills.
Operators work in challenging environments, often dealing with rough terrain, oversized loads, and extreme weather conditions. Here are some of the primary responsibilities of heavy equipment operators include:
- Moving earth and materials
- Extracting minerals
- Maintaining equipment
- Ensuring safety compliances are met
- Collaborating with engineers, geologists and other team members.
To become a heavy equipment operator in the mining industry, individuals typically need a high school certificate, relevant equipment certifications, mining-specific training, a valid driver’s licence, and apprenticeships or experience.
Underground Miner
Underground miners are essential within the mining industry. They work in confined, hazardous environments in the pursuit of extracting valuable minerals.
An Underground miner is versatile, and as such, they have several responsibilities as part of their job description. These responsibilities include:
- Drilling
- Blasting
- Operating heavy machinery
- Material extraction and transport
- Mine support and ground control
- Maintaining ventilation systems
- Ensuring strict safety protocols are adhered to
To be an underground miner, it’s essential to complete a specific mining training modulus, at least a high school diploma or equivalent, and given the strains within the role, applicants must be in relatively strong physical shape and possess strong endurance.
Electrician
Mining electricians are crucial in ensuring the continuous electricity supply for all mining operations.
Their responsibilities include installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems for various mining equipment. When working with high-voltage systems, electricians must adhere to strict safety standards to ensure the well-being of their co-workers.
To become a mining electrician, individuals typically need a high school certificate or equivalent, complete an electrical apprenticeship program, and undergo specialised training in mining-specific electrical systems.
Licensing and certifications are also required to practise as an electrician in their respective regions.
Boilermaker
Boilermakers are hot commodities in the mining industry, as they play a key role in maintaining and fixing essential infrastructure/ equipment. Some boiler-making mining projects include the creation, installation, and repair of metal structures such as pipelines, conveyors, storage tanks, and heavy machinery components used in extraction or processing.
Interpreting design plans, selecting and preparing construction materials, assembling metal structures, fixing and welding parts, conducting regular maintenance on metallic pipes, tanks, or vessels, and mining a vital equipment component.
Boilermakers often learn their trade through an apprenticeship, which teaches practical skills with tools, metals, and welding processes particular to industrial construction requirements. Apprenticeships typically last three to four years and include a mix of classroom work accompanied by the development of practical (on-the-job) skills.
To start an apprenticeship, you require a High School Certificate at least and to be 18 years old or above. During the apprenticeship, you will complete a Certificate III in engineering and fabrication trade, which can also qualify you to work as an assured boilermaker inside mining sector areas.
We at Synaco by Synergie are dedicated to supporting our employees. We work hard to provide the resources and support they need to succeed in their roles.
At Synaco by Synergie, a 55-year-old global workforce solutions team, we are deeply committed to workplace safety. This commitment, combined with our focus on providing a supportive working environment, ensures that our employees have the safe and secure workplace they deserve.
Our Australian-wide labour-hire recruitment services enable us to partner with employers of all sizes across many industries. An essential part of our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our employees consists of our representative spending plenty of time in the field, attending pre-start and safety meetings, training sessions, inductions, work area inspections, and other essential assessments. At Synaco by Synergie, we champion safe, productive workplaces – and would be more than happy to assist you with your next career move. The list of our current vacancies is available here.
