Mining skills and workforce snapshot

• 1 Industry snapshot

  Mining skills and workforce snapshot.

• 2 Introduction

  About the mining industry.

• 3 Workforce profile

  Mining is Victoria’s smallest employing industry, characterised by a largely male workforce and above‑average First Nations representation.

• 4 Top employing occupations

  Drillers, miners and shot firers is the top employing occupation in the industry, with a mostly male, full-time employed, VET qualified workforce.

• 5 Workforce projections

  By 2028, 700 new workers are expected to enter the mining industry.

• 6 Top growing occupations

  Top growing jobs in the industry are often VET aligned, with high workforce retention rates.

• 7 Skills needs

  Skills in high demand within the industry include risk management and occupational health and safety.

• 8 Training activity

  Popular courses and study areas linked to this industry include the Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations (VET) and Business management (HE).

• 9 Appendix 1: Data notes

  9 Appendix 1: Data notes.

• 9 Appendix 2: Data sources

  9 Appendix 2: Data sources.

Updated 22 October 2026