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A career in the mining industry does not necessarily mean working in an underground mine, which is the image that many people have of mining. In fact, the mining industry encompasses a wide variety of jobs and professions including geologists, engineers, environmental scientists, electricians, mechanics, machinery operators, as well as human resources, community relations, the financial and legal professions, public policy, communications and management.
The mining industry is the highest paying industry in NSW and in Australia. A person employed in the mining industry can earn well over $100,000 per annum, which far exceeds the average wage in NSW. The high earnings of people employed in the mining industry means that the workforce and their families generally have a high disposable income to spend with local shops and businesses. The added value to communities is that every miner in work also creates a job for around three to four other people.
Tradition plays a very strong role in mining communities. In some cases, there are whole communities and generations of families who have grown up near the mines and who have worked either in the mines or in an associated business. Communities benefit from a strong mining industry investing in regional and rural centres, thanks to the economic and social benefits that the industry creates and the stimulation of the job market.
In NSW more than 47,000 people are currently employed directly in mining and a further 45,000 are employed in minerals processing. The minerals industry supports 325,000 jobs around the State, which range from mining equipment suppliers, local government services, community facilities, to retail shops and businesses. For more information about jobs and careers in the mining industry, visit the Careers and Education section of the website.
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