The Mining Industry Skills Centre Heartbeat Project includes a tool that will allow MISC to identify job-specific skills shortages and pass that information back to mining companies for their future planning.

MISC strategic development manager Jenny Neumann said data collected across the mining industry so far had identified a recruitment burden of up to 60% in some job roles over the next three years.

“This project is unique as the data is current as from December 2006, rather than being based on outdated census information found in other skill-shortage reports,” Neumann said.

The survey of mining employees found that the majority of employees in the coal sector have worked with their current company for less than two years and were aged between 35 and 39 years old.

The results also indicated there was a significant portion of coal employees who had worked with their current employer for more than 30 years, and were close to retirement.

Based on existing workforce supply, it was found that by 2009 the coal sector will experience significant employee turnover:

• 32.4% of its diesel fitters
• 25.2% of its electricians
• 40.1% of its geologists
• 46.3% of its mining engineers

The survey also found:

• By 2009, almost 20% of the existing diesel fitters in the Queensland mining industry will be within retirement age;
• By 2009, almost 14% of the existing electricians in the Queensland mining industry will be within retirement age;
• By 2009, almost 9% of the existing geologists in the Queensland mining industry will be within retirement age;
• By 2009, 10% of the existing mining engineers in the Queensland mining industry will be within retirement age; and
• By 2009, 25% of the existing surveyors in the Queensland mining industry will be within retirement age.

The Heartbeat Project has recently purchased a workforce planning tool from workforce planning specialist Aruspex, which will be available via the web for all participating companies who are interested in planning for skills shortages in the future.

Neumann said the workforce planning software from Aruspex was critical to the success of the project.

“Workforce data for job roles such as mining engineers, diesel fitters, geologists, surveyors and electricians is collected, with the tool producing data which allows MISC to identify which job roles are currently under the most stress now and into the future,” she said.

“The tool also allows current and projected skills shortages to be displayed graphically with further functionality available by way of developing scenarios to address skills gaps.

“On a broader scale, it will also enable MISC to better inform on government policy, direct funding and align Vocational Education and Training programs and pathways to industry needs.”

The next Heartbeat Project data will be released in June 2007.

Companies that have contributed to the Heartbeat Project include:

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance

Anglo Coal Australia

Rio Tinto Coal Australia

Roche Mining

New Hope Coal Australia

Thiess