A former FIFO worker has lifted the lid on why he and countless other Australians are refusing to apply for $150,000 jobs in the highly lucrative mining industry.
More than 1,000 jobs are up for grabs in Western Australia’s mining industry – with employers desperate to fill a vast range of positions to keep operations moving.
But despite the huge salaries and cushy work perks – including free accommodation with gyms, swimming pools and bars – jobseekers are choosing to stay at home.
Gold Coast worker Ryan, who asked to remain anonymous, said he considered himself one of the ‘lucky ones’ after quitting the fly-in-fly-out industry.
With Australia’s mining industry set to boom again many miners who committed to the first mining boom said they would not return to the industry.
Global corporations BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are set to open new mines in the near future to mark a sudden boom in the industry.
But the billion-dollar companies are eager to change reputations that there are higher rates of suicide and drug and alcohol abuse in the mines compared with other fields.
Speaking to news.com.au, Ryan revealed the extreme mental and physical impact working in the mines had on his colleagues.
‘It’s a proven fact that if you’re FIFO for longer than two years there’s a three in four chance your relationship will go bust, you get the few blokes out there that love working away because they have no ties at home but mostly everyone does not want to work that long away anymore,’ he said.
Kalgoorlie Mayor John Bowler described the job shortage in the mining sector as a ‘crisis’ and urged the federal government to send skilled migrants as soon as possible
‘I think it should be illegal to work for four weeks straight.’
Ryan said it was a hard experience to be away from family for weeks on end, missing important family events and milestones.
He explained that after working all over the country, Western Australian mines presented the most remote and difficult locations to work.
The reputation of alcohol and drug abuse, skyrocketing suicide numbers and limited time with family did a lot to tarnish the reputation of the mining sector as a ‘gold mine’ for workers
Compounding the feeling of isolation from family is the below-standard – and in some cases non-existent – internet and phone reception at most WA mines.
However one way or another the mining companies will need to fill these positions and some have suggested bringing in skilled migrants to take up the positions.
The mining industry in Western Australia is desperate to fill more than 1,000 positions in almost every industry, from engineers to tradesmen
The number of mining jobs advertised online soared by 32 per cent in the past year, according to SEEK, with jobseekers needing little to no experience to earn big bucks.
Chamber of Minerals and Energy called for skilled migrants to fill the jobs Australians didn’t want.
Paul Everingham, the body’s CEO, said there were currently more than 1,000 vacancies in the Kalgoorlie mining sector alone.
‘You can’t sugar coat that – they’re available now and they’re not being filled,’ he told the ABC.
Kalgoorlie Mayor John Bowler described the job shortage in the mining sector as a ‘crisis’ and urged the federal government to send skilled migrants as soon as possible.
One experienced miner said it was a hard experience to be away from family for weeks on end, missing important family events and milestones