72,000 New Workers Required For Auto, Mining: AUSMASA

The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) estimates the mining and automotive industries nationally will grow by more than 72,000 workers in the coming decade, including 31,000 in mining, 10,000 in oil and gas extraction, and 31,000 in the automotive industry.

The projection is contained in AUSMASA’s new Workforce Plan for 2024 – Moving Ahead Together, incorporating input from industry, unions, governments, registered training organisations and workforce stakeholders.

Addressing workforce and skills shortages, improving diversity and adopting new technologies to enhance productivity and environmental outcomes are some of the key priorities for the automotive and mining industries.

CEO Dr Gavin Lind, pictured above, says as a Jobs and Skills Council (JSC), AUSMASA looks forward to continuing to work with education, industry and workforce stakeholders to address critical and emerging issues affecting the mining and automotive industries.

“This plan brings together our key activities, projects and priorities and explores a range of new economic insights and contemporary workforce data in support of the mining and automotive industries,” he says.

“Building on our initial Workforce Plan, this latest iteration includes deeper industry-level workforce data on demographics and future projections, coupled with existing vocational education and training data on specific training packages.

“Overall, AUSMASA’s 2024 Workforce Plan provides a broader and more granular evidence base of workforce and student-level data to identify and propose solutions to the workforce challenges faced by our industries.”

The 2024 Workforce Plan identifies the need to address workforce and skills shortages as a key priority.

Efforts to tackle these shortages include initiatives aimed at changing Generation Z’s perceptions of the mining industry and further research to explore youth perceptions of automotive careers.

“The emergence of electric vehicle (EV) technicians as a critical occupation underscores the need for targeted training programs and vocational pathways to meet industry demands,” Lind says.

“With EVs representing a significant technological shift, advancements in other areas, such as advanced driver assistance technology and autonomous systems, are also driving innovation.

“The integration of these technologies requires upskilling of the workforce and investment in training infrastructure to ensure workers have the necessary skills to operate and maintain advanced systems effectively.”

While initiatives are underway to improve mining culture and attract more females to the workforce, both the mining and automotive industries should continue enhancing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, which are crucial for building a sustainable workforce, Lind says.

Further priorities for both industries are the transition towards net-zero electrification, digitisation and automation. Challenges lie ahead to support these, particularly in skills development and establishing the necessary training infrastructure.

“Collaboration between industry stakeholders and educational institutions is essential to bridge the skills gap and ensure a skilled workforce capable of supporting the net-zero electrification transition,” Lind says.

“AUSMASA recognises the imperative of addressing productivity challenges to sustain economic growth. Through targeted initiatives, AUSMASA seeks to ensure a skilled and resilient workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of the mining and automotive industries in the changing economic and technological landscape.”

AUSMASA currently has multiple projects underway. Additional projects informed by the new workforce plan are now under consideration.

Click here to download a copy of AUSMASA’s Workforce Plan. AUSMASA will be holding two webinars – one for mining and another for automotive – seeking feedback on the 2024 Workforce Plan. To register visit here.