Overview
EMPLOYED
314,500
PART-TIME SHARE
5%
WORKFORCE SHARE
2.1%
FEMALE SHARE
20%
MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS
$2,832
MEDIAN AGE
42
Mining is a small employing industry. Around 2.1% of workers have their main job in this industry.
Mining covers the exploration and extraction of minerals, oil and gas. Activities in the Mining industry include:
- mining preparation work
- underground or open cut mining
- dredging
- quarrying
- well operations or evaporation pans.
Most jobs are in Western Australia and Queensland. Employment is mainly in regional or remote locations like Pilbara and Gladstone.
Median earnings are $2,832 per week, higher than all industries median earnings of $1,741.
Details
On this page
Employment
Employment in the Mining industry grew over the 20 years to February 2026.
The number of workers grew by 2,200 (or 0.7%) over the last year.
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Sectors
Metal Ore Mining is the largest sector in the Mining industry, employing 134,100 workers.
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Occupations
Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers is the largest employing occupation in the Mining industry.
The 10 largest employing occupations are shown below.
Some occupations are common across a number of industries.
Largest employing occupations
| ANZSCO Code | Occupation title |
|---|---|
| 7122 | Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers |
| 3232 | Metal Fitters and Machinists |
| 3129 | Other Building and Engineering Technicians |
| 3411 | Electricians |
| 7331 | Truck Drivers |
| 2336 | Mining Engineers |
| 1335 | Production Managers |
| 2344 | Geologists, Geophysicists and Hydrogeologists |
| 7212 | Earthmoving Plant Operators |
| 3223 | Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers |
Data Downloads
Industry data
This file contains data for all 19 industries to make comparing industry data easy. Information available includes:
- industry overview
- industry employment (20-year time series)
- industry sector employment
- top employing occupations by industry.