Skills demand still strong: 100,000 construction jobs in 2013

Nearly 100,000 construction labour jobs will be up for grabs in Australia’s mining, energy and infrastructure projects in 2013, according to a new labour market index launched by the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA).

AMMA Director of Group Services Tara Diamond announced the first biannual AMMA-Pit Crew Labour Market Index at Mining Skills Australia’s Summit in Sydney.

“This unique industry tool details the labour demands for major Australian resource and infrastructure projects, breaking down specific areas of the skills shortage and capital investment state by state,” Diamond said.

“This index shows that while construction workforce numbers are coming off a massive peak in 2012, during 2013 Australia will still see 98,869 people walk through the gate of major resources, energy or infrastructure projects.

“LNG investment is having the most significant impact on the demand for labour and, despite the need for urgent policy action to address productivity and cost pressures, employment numbers are still set to increase over 2013 towards an expected peak in 2014.”

The index is based on a labour forecasting system developed by Pit Crew Management Consulting, which also predicts a potential shortage of 4000 specialist welders and boilermakers as the mechanical phases of major LNG projects ramp up. Other skills shortages include electrical trades, production operators, mechanical fitters and engineering technicians.

“Pit Crew and AMMA have formed a strategic relationship to provide an updated labour market index twice a year,” said Pit Crew managing director Peter Dyball.

“Our modelling includes a range of infrastructure projects which also draw upon the resource industry’s construction labour pool. These projects include roads, power stations, port facilities, hospitals and public rail infrastructure.”

The AMMA-Pit Crew Labour Market Index is available here.