Source: Straight from the source – August 2025
Queensland’s resources and energy industry may require more than 4400 new workers by the end of 2030, according to new modelling from the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA).
Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2025–2030 shows the state has 17 major projects in its pipeline – up from just 11 in last year’s forecast – requiring 4,412 new production-phase employees.
Queensland’s direct workforce stood at 85,200 in May 2025 (roughly 27% of the national resources and energy workforce), up 7,300 or 9.4% over the past 12 months, cementing the state as the nation’s second most attractive destination for resources investment behind WA.
AREEA CEO Steve Knott AM welcomed the rebound but said risks remain, especially with the state’s coal royalty regime.
“Queensland’s poor showing in last year’s forecast now looks like a speedbump rather than a brick wall,” Mr Knott said.
“But the state’s unsustainably high coal royalty regime is still shaking investor confidence. Even if new coal projects proceed, workforce gains could be cancelled out by job losses at less competitive mines.”
Coal remains Queensland’s strongest driver of investment, with five projects requiring more than 1,900 new workers by 2030. Copper and silica are next in line, with four projects across both commodities forecast to create 1,230 jobs – led by Evolution Mining’s Ernest Henry Mine Extension.
Other key developments include the Paradise South phosphate project (245 jobs by 2027), Sconi Nickel (300) and Eva Copper (450) in 2028.
Nationally, AREEA’s Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2025–2030 identifies 96 major projects across Australia expected to create demand for 22,279 new operating-phase jobs by 2030.
While slightly down on recent years, the consistency across successive reports underlines Australia’s enduring strength as a destination for resources and energy investment.
Western Australia continues to lead with 42 projects requiring almost 9,000 new workers, while New South Wales has 11 projects forecast to generate nearly 3,300 jobs by 2030.
The full 2025–2030 Workforce Forecast report is available here.
Click here for a PDF copy of this release, including media contact details.