Aside from Queensland, Western Australia is the mining hub of Australia and quite possibly the world!), with the overall value of the mining and petroleum industry in WA being about $71.3 billion in 08-09.
Over the last 20 years there has been a significant increase in mining jobs in WA, increasing from 30,000 in 1989 to over 75,000 in 2009. If you are looking for a job in the mines then Western Australia looks like a great place to make your start.
Major Mining Communities In Western Australia
WA is quite a large state (the biggest in Australia), so I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the major areas where the most extraction is being done – and where there are the most mining jobs.
Kalgoorlie
Home to the largest open-pit mine The Super Pit, at over 3.5km long and 1.5km wide, this mine alone produces 28 tonne of gold each year and directly employs close to 550 mining staff.
The mine is open 24/5 with daily blasts at 1pm (weather permitting).
Pilbara
The Pilbara region, including Karratha, is where most of Australia’s iron ore is mined – resulting in over 9,000 mining jobs in this area alone. A thin strip in the northern region of Western Australia, Pilbara is well known for is large mineral deposits.
Where To Apply For Mining Jobs in WA?
There are a couple of ways to apply for find jobs in the mining industry of Western Australia and here are the main ones.
Job Sites
The popular job websites are always a great place to start and here are a few that I recommend:
Recruitment Agencies
There are specialised mining recruitment agencies that work at connecting mines with potential employees. A few based in WA are:
The Mines
You may also wish to get in contact with the individual mines themselves. Most have a jobs section on their website.
If you have experience or qualifications it is a lot easier to get a job in the mines, and if you are unskilled then it is best to get the basic certificates and tickets before you start applying.
