Professionals in Australia’s minerals industry are experiencing double the average national unemployment rate, a survey has revealed.
Research by the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) showed the unemployment rate amongst workers, such as geologists and mining engineers, was 12.2 per cent.
The institute’s chief executive, Michael Catchpole, said changes in commodity prices, cost-cutting measures and the reining in of development of new projects and exploration had resulted in a “quick spike” in unemployment right across professional jobs in the industry.
He said the figures should prompt the Federal Government to review its skilled migration program.
“The 457 visas were used when labour was short, but we haven’t seen evidence that the 457 visa system has been tightened sufficiently to ensure that the change in employment and the increased unemployment of Australian mining professionals has been recognised by the Government,” he said.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Unemployment in mining sector double national rate: AusIMM – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
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