jobs Archives - Cormac Consulting

19 November 2019

Why the mining industry is so important

Mining is not the most popular sector in Australia. Some believe mining in certain locations, or mining some commodities, should be banned. There are also groups who believe the damage that mining causes to the environment justifies it being banned entirely.

But Australian life would look very different without the contribution of the mining and resources industry.

According to Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Australia’s resources sector generated 55% of the nation’s export revenue and directly employs 250,000 Australians in highly paid jobs, particularly in regional communities.

The mining industry generated AUS$12 billion in royalties for state governments in 2017 – 2018 and paid AUS$18.6 billion in company tax.

These mining revenues fund the teachers, nurses, police, and infrastructure projects that are essential services on which all Australians rely upon.

If we did not mine certain materials, what are we choosing to live without?

Coal

Easily the least popular commodity to mine. Yet Queensland and New South Wales are in an abundance of it.

Some coal is mined for power, and without power there is no lights, phones, air con, or Netflix along with other priorities.

And yes, there are greener ways of providing energy, but they all need steel and other major construction materials – which is the other huge reason why we mine coal.

A special type of coal is used to produce coke for the steel making process and by-products of coke-making include coal tar, ammonia, lights oils and coal gas. Coal is used in cement manufacturing, food processing, paper manufacturing and alumina refineries.

Although the coal mining sector employs almost 40,000 people directly, the manufacturing, civil engineering sector, and more, rely on it for their own employment.

Copper

Copper can be found everywhere in our day to day lives.

An average family home contains more than 90 kilograms of copper: 40 kg of electrical wire, 30 kg of plumbing, 15 kg of builder’s hardware, 9 kg inside electrical appliances and 5 kg of brass goods.

The average car contains around 1.5 km of copper wire with an additional 20-45 kg depending on the vehicle size.

A Boeing 747-200 jet plane contains about 1.8 tonnes of copper.

Copper can also be found in building construction, heating and cooling systems, telecommunications, motors, wiring, radiators and many more.

Gold

Australia’s gold mines will produce an estimated 10.7 million ounces a year. The most of Australia’s gold is in Western Australia, but deposits can also be found nationwide.

As the third largest mineral export and Australia’s sixth largest exporter representing 6.5% of Australia’s total export, gold mining is worth around 16.5 billion a year.

Around 30,000 Australians work in the gold sector with wages around 70% above the country’s average.

Gold is used for: money, building and construction, medical tools, jewellery, and electronics.

Lithium

Lithium is an element valuable to produce glass, aluminium products, and batteries.

The increase use of batteries in technology: cars, phones, tablets, and means there has been a large influx of lithium. So much so, production levels have slowed down for now, but will be around for the long term.

Australia is the world leader in lithium production. We currently extract it at 500,000 tonnes per-annum.

With this increase need for lithium batteries, together with cobalt, they will become two of the most valuable mineral Australia will export.

To conclude

Mined materials are needed to construct roads and hospitals, to build automobiles and houses, to make computers and satellites, to generate electricity, and to provide the many other goods and services that consumers enjoy.

In addition, mining is economically important.

It provides employment, dividends, and taxes that pay for hospitals, schools, and public facilities.

The mining industry produces a trained workforce and small businesses that can service communities and may initiate related businesses. Mining also yields foreign exchange and accounts for a significant portion of gross domestic product. Mining fosters a number of associated activities, such as manufacturing of mining equipment, provision of engineering and environmental services, and the development of world-class universities in the fields of geology, mining engineering, and metallurgy.

The economic opportunities and wealth generated by mining for many producing countries are substantial.

28 October 2019

The importance of upskilling

Roles in mining are always changing – locations, environments, machinery, technology and automation – so making sure your skills adapt to these changes is critical for your career growth.

A recent survey of over 2,000 people uncovered that 77% of employers are more likely to shortlist a candidate who has regularly upskilled.

Upskilling could be as simple as reading relevant publications, watching videos, ted talks. But extra TAFE courses or short courses will really make you stand out.

Maximize your opportunities

Upskilling gives you a better chance of having the desirable skills that an employer will look for when recruiting. Having a limited skill set will limit your opportunities.

Having the skills for more opportunities will give you a better chance of getting the job you want. This will increase your overall morale.

Makes you more attractive to employers

As mentioned before, being open to upskilling makes your more employable. If an employer is going to invest in you they want to make sure that you’re willing to grow with the company. Showing you have a will to do this gives you brownie points against someone that doesn’t.

Reduce the chances of redundancy

It’s easy to forget how vulnerable the mining sector can be when we are going through a boom, but it’s always a possibility.

Having more skills make you less likely to be made redundant when the sector goes down or at least gives you a better chance.

Upskill in the right way to add more job security

Make sure you research what you’re upskilling in. There’s no point in upskilling in something that is becoming less useful.

Right now, for miner’s, technology and automation is a hot topic. Whether you’re for it or against it, it’s happening. More and more automation vehicles and equipment are becoming the norm at mining sites, so the quicker you jump on the bandwagon the better.

Upskill in something completely random or away from your every day

This is a bit out there, but if you have another passion, found a trend that will become employable in the future, then go for it.

When the downturn happens and your skill is less needed, having a qualification completely away from that role could help you survive the downturn.

It’s never too late to take this approach.

4 October 2019

Mining skills – it’s time to start adapting to technology and automation.

Demand for mine workers is almost back at boom-time levels. Western Australia recently reported that the state’s employment rates in the mining sector are at an all-time high. And with some of the projects ready to kick start mentioned in precious Cormac blogs, there’s no sign of slowing down just yet.

However, as jobs continue to move forward, so do the roles that are required.

Growth in automation means the jobs will be different. There is a stigma across the sector towards technology and automation, that jobs will be lost because of this shift in technology. But in fact, approximately 20,000 automated jobs earmarked for the WA mining sector alone.

Not only will new jobs be available, but our duties will become quicker, more efficient and much more accurate and basically safer.

Union organiser Jeff Carig is working with mining companies about the transition to automated jobs on behalf of Western Mine Workers Alliance members.

Mr Carig believes mining companies will still need people to service the equipment, they still need people to work in the control rooms, they still need people to work in getting the equipment running every day.

BHP – a global company that employ over 60,000 people worldwide plans for a site wide automation project. This includes an additional 41 autonomous trucks deal to its 250 autonomous haulage system.

Rio Tinto – another large company in the mining sector recently brought in 20 autonomous trucks and 4 autonomous blast drills.

As future projects get approved and green and brownfield sites become unlocked, the trend of automation and technology will become the norm.