By 2028, 700 new workers are expected to enter the mining industry.
Workforce projections: 3-year and 10-year outlook
Workforce projections – industry
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | -150 | -20% | 900 | 120% | 750 |
2025 to 2035 | -160 | -6% | 2,800 | 106% | 2,700 |
Workforce projections – Victoria
Time period | Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Share | No. | Share | ||
2025 to 2028 | 143,000 | 38% | 230,000 | 62% | 373,000 |
2025 to 2035 | 650,000 | 45% | 804,000 | 55% | 1,454,000 |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
New workers expected⁵ by industry subdivision from 2025 to 2028
Industry subdivision | Number of workers | VET | Higher education | No post-school qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying | 1,200 | 44% | 10% | 46% |
Coal mining | 360 | 53% | 16% | 31% |
Metal ore mining | 290 | 35% | 42% | 23% |
Occupations with high new workers expected⁵ with direct TAFE study pathways⁶ from 2025 to 2028
Occupation | New workers expected5 | TAFE pathways into occupation6 | Available under Free TAFE7 |
|---|---|---|---|
Truck drivers | 330 | Certificate III in Driving Operations | - |
Certificate IV in Specialist Driving Operations | - | ||
Earthmoving plant operators | 220 | Certificate III in Civil Construction | ✓ |
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations | ✓ | ||
Certificate II in Civil Construction | - | ||
Metal fitters and machinists | 90 | Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology | - |
Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade | - | ||
Other stationary plant operators | 90 | Certificate III in Civil Construction | ✓ |
Production managers | 80 | Certificate IV in Process Manufacturing | - |
Diploma of Surface Operations Management | - |
Western metropolitan (within metropolitan Melbourne) and Gippsland (within regional Victoria) are expecting the highest share of new workers
New workers expected⁵ for mining, by region⁸, from 2025 to 2028
New workers expected – industry
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industry | -150 | 900 | 750 | <1% |
New workers expected – Metropolitan Melbourne
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Metropolitan Melbourne | 90 | 360 | 450 | 60% |
Western metropolitan | 220 | 40 | 260 | 58% |
Southern metropolitan | 40 | 60 | 100 | 21% |
Northern metropolitan | 50 | 40 | 90 | 20% |
Eastern metropolitan | 30 | 30 | 60 | 13% |
Inner south-east metropolitan | -50 | 20 | -20 | -6% |
Inner metropolitan | -210 | 180 | -30 | -8% |
New workers expected – Regional Victoria
| Employment growth | Retirements | New workers expected 2028 | Share of total new workers expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional Victoria | -240 | 540 | 300 | 40% |
Gippsland | 170 | 140 | 310 | 104% |
Barwon | 60 | 10 | 70 | 24% |
Goulburn | 40 | 10 | 40 | 14% |
Ovens Murray | 20 | 20 | 40 | 13% |
Mallee | 20 | 10 | 40 | 12% |
Great South Coast | 20 | 10 | 30 | 11% |
Wimmera Southern Mallee | -50 | 40 | -10 | -3% |
Central Highlands | -150 | 100 | -40 | -15% |
Loddon Campaspe | -370 | 190 | -180 | -60% |
Note: Totals may not sum exactly due to rounding.
- 60 per cent of new workers expected for the industry will be located within metropolitan Melbourne, with Western metropolitan and Southern metropolitan with the highest share of new workers
- 40 per cent of new workers expected for the industry will be located within regional Victoria, with Gippsland and Barwon with the highest share of new workers.
Updated