Mining job ads up 50 per cent

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There has been a 50 per cent jump in the number of mining jobs being advertised in Australia since October, according to a recruitment company.

Surging demand from China has triggered a recovery in commodities prices and pushed business confidence to new highs.

"We've seen a marked increase in mining-related job ads in the first couple of weeks of 2010," said Simon Winfield, the regional director at Hays.

"In the months of October and November job ads rose about 25 per cent on the previous three months.

"I'd say it's probably up another 25 per cent on that."

Mr Winfield says in August and September last year there were only about four job advertisements for good senior-level white collar roles in the mining sector in Western Australia.

"But this month there are about 30 or 40 of those sort of jobs being advertised," he said.

"The market for geologists in exploration is coming back, which is encouraging. There's also still a demand for mining engineers - those are probably the positions we struggle the most to fill."

Mr Winfield says the shortage will force companies to look overseas for skilled workers.

"That will start up again in the next few months," he said.

"I'd imagine the 457 visa will become an increasingly attractive option and we'll start getting those inquiries again from overseas."

Meanwhile, recruitment company Hudson says Australian employer sentiment has surged again to reach the highest level of confidence seen since September 2008.

"Western Australia has rebounded strongly as resurgent demand from China and a recovery in commodities prices sees a range of projects being fast-tracked," said Mark Steyn, the company's CEO.

SOURCE

MH