Severe shortage of mining engineers looming

Australia’s resources industry is crying out for graduate mining engineers to lead new technologies, according to Monash University’s Mining & Resources Advisory Council.

Mining & Resources Advisory Council chair, Debra Stirling, said a looming skills shortage for mining engineers comes as companies are transforming the way they mine for resources in Australia.

“Automation and digital technologies are modernising the industry. While this is impacting workers on the front line, such as truck drivers, engineers are very much in demand for mining projects. The challenge for industry is that there isn’t a solid pipeline of graduate mining engineers, which is leading to a serious skills shortage.

“We are getting numerous industry calls begging for graduates and could have placed all of our 2017 graduates many times over. As a result, they are among the highest paid graduates and their industry employment rate is almost 100%,” said Debra.

Despite operating in in a boom and bust cycle, mining and resources is vital to the Australian economy, producing 64% of our export earnings in 2016. There are more than 40 mined minerals in an average mobile phone and demand continues to increase as the global population grows.

Students who choose to study mining engineering open themselves up to opportunities including vacation work with leading Australia’s resources companies and generous scholarship offers.

Fourth-year Monash Resources Engineering student, Keely Simpson-Bull, recently returned from a three-month summer internship at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam project.

“I was tasked with a real-life construction challenge in an underground mine, expected to provide solutions and report back to management. It was an incredible experience and one that validated my decision to pursue a career in mining engineering,” said Keely.

“I choose to follow this path because I wanted to work in a field which has such huge site operations and to be able to physically see the difference that your work makes to the operation. I’m really positive about my future in the mining industry and strongly encourage other students to consider mining engineering.”

Engineering students who are thinking about specialising in Resources Engineering should contact the Resources Engineering Student Society (RESS) or Lyn Harris on 9905 4951.