REPORT SHOWS MINERS LOSE MORE THAN HALF THEIR FIFO STAFF

The turnover rates have tripled in less than a decade and cost the sector millions of dollars each year in recruitment, education and training costs.

According to the Kinetic Group’s latest Heartbeat report on the resources workforce, non-resident employees have a 61.5 per cent turnover rate – twice that of any other type of employee.

The Spring Hill resource skills consultancy reveals staff turnover rates have tripled since 2003, when a University of Queensland research paper showed FIFO turnover was 21.7 per cent.

The cost of the turnover was estimated to be around $2.8 million to employers but that figure has soared in the years since.

“The turnover burden to industry is estimated at $140 million annually for direct costs of recruitment, induction and training,” says Kinetic Group’s CEO Derek Hunter (pictured).

“The industry cannot expand without FIFO, but its growth will not be sustained without better recruitment processes.”

He warns the state’s flourishing exploration companies must improve hiring processes or risk losing a golden opportunity to make the most of the mining boom.

“We need to address the long-term issues of isolation, male-dominated work camp populations and excessive drinking of alcohol,” he says.

“We need to explain to job applicants what FIFO works is like, including how it can be a remarkable lifestyle.”

It is estimated mining projects in the Galilee Basin may need up to 1000 diesel engineers in coming years, but Kinetic advises against recruiting professionals from abroad to address the skills shortage.

“The industry should instead establish career pathways and set up programs to find workers,’’ says Hunter.

“Labour hire companies have taken the lead by becoming registered training organisations. The industry should partner with them to provide the necessary developmental skills for future employment.”