With International Youth Day today (12 August), the resources sector is seeking to be part of the discussion in classrooms, community organisations, and homes on how to engage the next generation stepping into the industry’s critical roles over the coming decade.
“Essentially, we are the future custodians of the world,” Aileen Hu, the University of Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholar and Queensland’s Outstanding Academic Achiever of 2024, tells Mining.com.au.
Yet, in the mining sector, a generational gap has emerged, and is widening.
Despite being one of Australia’s most economically significant industries, mining is struggling to attract and retain young talent. From perception issues to practical barriers, the sector finds itself in a high-stakes competition for the workforce of the future.
“We’ve got such low unemployment at the moment and we’re all competing for the same talent pool,” Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) Policy Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina Lee-Jones says.
Globally, more than 65 million young people are unemployed, according to data presented at the World Economic Forum.
In Australia alone, the youth unemployment rate increased to 9.6% as of June 2025 – representing more than double the national average of 4.2%, according to data compiled from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Yet, the mining industry is still struggling to appeal to a growing, untapped demographic.
A talent shortage
Skills shortages coupled with a reluctance of youth and graduates to join the mining sector presents a real challenge as well as capability risk for the mining sector.
A 2022 BDO report reveals that only 15% of respondents said they would be interested in mining, while 54% believed that the mining sector is an essential part of the global climate solution.
Even more telling, a 2024 McKinsey report highlighted 70% of young participants said they would definitely not or probably not work in mining, as Mining.com.au reported.
The reputational challenge is further highlighted by the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance’s survey, where the majority of respondents indicated a belief that the industry does more harm than good.
QRC’s Lee-Jones explains, the nature of the mining industry is a challenge for many reasons.
“Where the operations are located, which are all regional, then you have fly-in fly-out which is a good option but young people would also love to be able to move into a head office on their first job,” she says.
But it is not just geography, as other industries such as construction – buoyed by the upcoming 2032 Olympic Games – are offering fierce competition.
“A lot of engineers, project managers, and people alike are going into that field and saying no, come and work with us. That’s a big one for us,” Lee-Jones says.
With the 2032 Olympic Games fast approaching, the Queensland Government has released a delivery plan which involves a $7.1 billion venue capital works program.
A challenge further compounded when competition for new construction jobs presents during a period where skills required for generational infrastructure presents in a relatively tight timeframe.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the construction industry is a large employing industry, employing around 1.34 million Australians – which represents 9.2% of workers having their main job in the industry.
Meanwhile, mining – despite being among the largest contributors to the overall nation’s economy – is a rather smaller employing industry. Jobs and Skills Australia reports that only 2.2% of workers have mining as their main job, with the sector employing 321,300 people.
ABS reveals that the mining industry employment had increased 7.3%, as of March 2025, with a direct 16,000 people employed.
Lee-Jones points out another interesting challenge, being wages.
“Usually we’ve had the upper hand and the industry has been able to offer very high salaries and in times like what we have now with challenging financial situations, the wages have been an attractive tool to them,” she tells this news service.
“Now some construction companies are offering wages that are almost on par with what mining companies offer. So now, we’re listing that particular edge.”
In fact, Australia’s construction industry wages and salaries rose by 9.1% in 2023-24 according to the ABS.
Despite these challenges, there are efforts underway to help close the gap.
Mentorship, education, and culture
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Lochie McCabe, President of Young Mining Professionals (YMP) Brisbane, says the organisation is working to connect young people with meaningful careers in mining.
“There is an undersupply of mining engineering, geotechnical engineers, mining engineers, and flight-based technical experts,” McCabe says.
“At YMP, we’re really helping people that want to be in the mining industry and want to grow in the industry.”
Young Mining Professionals is a growing international association of mining professionals based in major mining centres. The group offers mentoring, career development, and networking opportunities, critical for an industry looking for its next generation of workers.
McCabe says most of YMP’s events are sponsored by the mining industry that are information sessions or networking events.
“That’s how people meet other potential employers and build relationships that help members move between resource companies,” he says.
“For example, members might say they want to get into coal or hard-rock mining. Then they’ll use those relationships to leverage new relationships and help find more employment opportunities.”
Aileen Hu says the power of networking within different organisations and age demographics is so strong in the industry.
“Our alumni community is so strong and it’s always a treat to see a familiar face, whether that be online or in person,” Hu says.
“It’s really supportive to have that community. From a career perspective, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) showed my the variety of roles in the mining sector and the sheer variety and diversity of the roles.”
QRC actively engages with young Queenslanders through its education arm – the QMEA. The QMEA delivers science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) and trade workshops to students in partnership with local resource companies.
Hu also participated in the QMEA, which he explains as being a pivotal time in her life in regards to her degree choices. Hu is currently studying at the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce and Masters of Engineering.
“I grew up on the Gold Coast and my parents didn’t work in this industry – that’s why I really think programs like QMEA are so important,” she says.
“QMEA took us to tour companies along the entire mining chain. From procurement to transportation to the shipping docks. And that experience genuinely shaped my degree choice today.”
Lee-Jones says a new QMEA workshop is set to be delivered this year focusing on year 7-10 students.
Investing in the future
“It’s important we mentor and nurture the next wave of mining workers across our industry,” Warren Pearce, CEO of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC), says.
Nurturing young people isn’t just an imperative – it’s a societal investment.
That message aligns closely with this year’s International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August. Established in 1999, the United Nations says the day is designed to elevate youth voices and highlight their contributions to building the future.
Hu explains that there is young talent within the sector and it is up to companies and organisations within the industry to harness it.
“Mining and resources are so big in Australia, and Australia is in a position to champion innovation in the space,” she says.
“Our perspective as young people would really help propel those efforts. I am really excited for when I get to join the industry and really be ready to contribute from day one.”
This year’s theme for International Youth Day is ‘Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships’.
Pearce highlighted this messaging as a call to young people to consider a career in mining.
“Younger people are digital natives, so it comes really naturally to them,” he says.
“This brings so many benefits to our team and the industry as a whole, by challenging the way things have traditionally been done. This is how innovation and efficiency can be found.”
For Lee-Jones, anything the industry does with digital technology or robotics gets young people excited.
“Emerging technologies will shape the future of the resources industry and you can;t invest in new technology without also investing in the people who operate it,” she tells this news service.
As the mining industry looks ahead to the coming decades, it’s clear: the decisions made today – how the sector trains, communicates, and supports young people – will determine its long-term prospects.
The future of mining is not dug from the ground, but from the relationships it cultivates in classrooms, community organisations, and homes.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au, Queensland Resources Council, & Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy
