Source: Straight from the source – August 2025
Western Australia’s resources and energy industry will require almost 9,000 new workers by the end of 2030, according to modelling released today by the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association (AREEA).
Resources and Energy Workforce Forecast: 2025–2030 shows WA has 42 major projects in its investment pipeline – valued at $81.8 billion – forecast to create demand for 8,924 new workers.
WA’s resources workforce has bounced back strongly from a temporary 2024 downturn, directly employing 165,300 people in May 2025 – up 14% or more than 20,000 employees in just 12 months. However, the current pipeline represents the state’s lowest level of projected new workforce growth in over four years.
AREEA CEO Steve Knott AM said the figures highlighted both the resilience of WA’s existing workforce and the risks of softening investment.
“WA remains the powerhouse of Australia’s resources industry, accounting for over half of its national workforce, but this report shows the state cannot take new projects for granted,” Mr Knott said.
“Lithium has collapsed from seven projects last year to just one, Dorado has been mothballed indefinitely, and fewer new projects are coming through the approvals system.
“With gold, iron ore, copper and critical minerals still driving new jobs, WA has an enormous opportunity to remain globally competitive – but only if policy settings support investment rather than strangle it.”
Gold is the standout, with 11 projects requiring 2,400 new employees, while four iron ore projects will require about 1,200, and three copper projects another 650. Critical minerals are steady at 730 workers, but lithium has slumped to just 50 jobs in the pipeline.
In the energy sector, seven projects – led by Woodside and Shell’s LNG developments – account for two-thirds of the state’s $81.8 billion pipeline value.
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 shows Australia remains a highly attractive destination for resources and energy investment.
Queensland has rebounded with 17 projects forecast to create demand for more than 4,400 new workers, while New South Wales has 11 projects requiring just under 3,300 employees by 2030.
The full 2025–2030 Workforce Forecast report is available here.
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