Australian mining is pushing for scale right now, with coal output hitting 182.4 million tonnes in 2024. Yet while tonnage keeps moving, the workforce picture looks different with non-managerial mine employment down to 136,600 in the September quarter of 2024. That squeeze between production and people is exactly what makes these 2024 figures worth a closer look.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022-23, mining contributed A$455 billion to Australia's GDP, or 10.3% of total GDP
- The industry employed 278,000 direct workers in 2023
- Australia exported A$347 billion in minerals and energy in 2022-23
- Mining fatal injuries dropped to 18 in 2022
- In 2022-23, Australia produced 918 million tonnes of iron ore, accounting for 53% of global production
Australian mining investment and production remain strong, driven by sustained demand for key resources.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic Impact30 stats
01
In 2022-23, mining contributed A$455 billion to Australia's GDP, or 10.3% of total GDP
02
The mining sector generated A$347 billion in export revenue in 2022-23
03
Royalties from mining totalled A$16.5 billion for state governments in 2022-23
04
Iron ore exports contributed A$138 billion to the economy in 2022-23
05
Coal exports were valued at A$65 billion in 2022-23
06
LNG exports reached A$70 billion in 2022-23
07
Gold exports generated A$28 billion in revenue in 2022-23
08
Mining investment was A$58 billion in 2022-23
09
The sector paid A$50 billion in company taxes in FY2023
10
Mining supported 1.1 million indirect jobs in 2022
11
Regional mining economies grew GDP by 15% above national average in 2022
12
BHP's economic contribution was A$20 billion to Australia in FY2023
13
Rio Tinto contributed A$18.5 billion in taxes and payments in 2023
14
Mining royalties in Western Australia alone were A$11.8 billion in 2022-23
15
Queensland mining royalties totalled A$3.9 billion in 2022-23
16
Mining added A$150 billion to national wealth via superannuation in 2022
17
The value of mining production rose 8% to A$340 billion in 2022-23
18
Critical minerals exports grew 20% to A$15 billion in 2022-23
19
Mining GDP contribution A$455B, 10.3% total 2022-23
20
Export revenue A$347B minerals/energy 2022-23
21
Royalties A$16.5B states 2022-23
22
Iron ore export value A$136B 2022-23
23
Coal export value A$65B 2022-23
24
LNG export value A$70B 2022-23
25
Gold export value A$28B 2022-23
26
Mining capex A$58B 2022-23
27
Company taxes A$50B FY2023
28
Indirect jobs 1.1M supported 2022
29
Regional GDP growth 15% above nat avg 2022
30
BHP contribution A$20B taxes/royalties FY2023
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Australia's economy is theoretically sophisticated, it is still largely propped up by digging up rocks and setting them on fire to the tune of nearly half a trillion dollars, funding everything from government coffers to your nan's superannuation.
02 · Category
Employment Data30 stats
01
The industry employed 278,000 direct workers in 2023
02
Fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers comprised 40% of mining workforce in 2022
03
Average mining salary was A$152,000in 2023, 80% above national average
04
Women made up 25% of mining workforce in 2023, up from 15% in 2015
05
Indigenous employment in mining reached 5% of workforce in 2022
06
Western Australia hosted 60% of mining jobs, or 167,000 in 2023
07
Queensland mining employed 52,000 workers in 2023
08
65% of mining roles required vocational qualifications in 2022
09
Apprenticeships in mining totalled 12,000 in 2023
10
Labour turnover in mining was 12% in 2022, below national 15%
11
FIFO operations supported 80,000 jobs in regional areas in 2023
12
Engineers comprised 8% of mining workforce, or 22,000 in 2023
13
Heavy vehicle drivers made up 15% of roles, 42,000 in 2022
14
Diversity programs trained 5,000 women in 2023
15
Youth employment under 25 was 10% in mining, 28,000 in 2023
16
Safety training hours totalled 2.5 million in 2022
17
Contractors filled 50% of mining jobs in 2023
18
Direct employment 278k in mining 2023
19
FIFO 40% workforce 2022
20
Avg salary A$152k, 80% above avg 2023
21
Women 25% workforce 2023
22
Indigenous 5% workforce 2022
23
WA 167k jobs 60% national 2023
24
QLD 52k mining jobs 2023
25
Vocational quals 65% roles 2022
26
Apprentices 12k in mining 2023
27
Turnover 12% vs nat 15% 2022
28
FIFO jobs 80k regional 2023
29
Engineers 22k, 8% workforce 2023
30
Drivers 42k, 15% roles 2022
Interpretation
Employment Data Interpretation
Australia's mining industry is a high-paying, fly-in fly-out powerhouse that's stubbornly clinging to its hard hats and heavy vehicles while slowly, and with considerable training, making room for more women, youth, and Indigenous workers, proving you can be traditional and transformative at the same time, just as long as the pay is good.
03 · Category
Export and Trade30 stats
01
Australia exported A$347 billion in minerals and energy in 2022-23
02
Iron ore was 40% of total exports, A$138 billion to China mainly
03
Coal exports went to 45 countries, top Japan and India, A$65B
04
LNG shipped 81 million tonnes, A$70B to Asia
05
Gold exports to UK and Switzerland totalled A$28B in 2022-23
06
Aluminium exports were A$12B, mainly to Asia
07
Copper concentrate exports grew 15% to A$10B in 2023
08
Nickel exports valued A$5B, key to EV batteries
09
Lithium exports hit A$12B, 50% global supply
10
Rare earths exports A$1.2B, growing to China
11
90% of iron ore exports from Pilbara ports in 2023
12
Gladstone port handled 120Mt coal exports in 2023
13
Trade surplus from mining was A$120B in 2022-23
14
FTA with China boosted iron ore trade by 10% in 2023
15
India became top coal buyer, 25% share in 2023
16
Critical minerals in 60+ FTAs, exports up 25%
17
Port Hedland exported 550Mt iron ore in 2023
18
Hay Point coal terminal 50Mt exports annually
19
Minerals/energy exports A$347B 2022-23
20
Iron ore 40% exports A$138B mainly China
21
Coal to 45 countries A$65B Japan/India top
22
LNG 81Mt A$70B Asia 2022-23
23
Gold A$28B to UK/Switzerland 2022-23
24
Alumina exports A$12B Asia 2023
25
Copper conc +15% A$10B 2023
26
Nickel A$5B EV key 2023
27
Lithium A$12B 50% global 2023
28
REE A$1.2B to China growth 2023
29
Pilbara ports 90% iron ore exports 2023
30
Gladstone 120Mt coal 2023
Interpretation
Export and Trade Interpretation
While China hungrily devours our iron ore, Japan and India scarf down our coal, Asia thirstily gulps our gas, and the world powers its green dreams with our lithium and nickel, Australia has, with a heavy shrug and a bulging wallet, become the indispensable quarry for the global economy.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health, Safety, and Environment30 stats
01
Mining fatal injuries dropped to 18 in 2022
02
Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was 2.8 per million hours in 2022
03
95% of mines had zero fatalities in 2023
04
Rehabilitation of 50,000 hectares of mine sites in 2022-23
05
Water usage in mining totalled 1,200 gigalitres in 2022
06
80% of energy from renewables targeted by 2030, 25% achieved in 2023
07
Greenhouse gas emissions from mining were 80Mt CO2-e in 2022
08
Biodiversity offsets protected 100,000 ha in 2023
09
Dust emissions reduced 30% via new tech in 2022
10
Tailings dam audits completed 100% compliance in 2023
11
Mental health programs reached 100,000 workers in 2023
12
Noise exposure incidents fell 20% to 1,200 in 2022
13
Recycling of mine waste hit 40% rate in 2023
14
Closure plans approved for 50 mines in 2022-23
15
Acid mine drainage treated at 95% of sites in 2023
16
Safety tech investments A$2B in 2023
17
Community engagement funds A$500M annually
18
Rehabilitation success rate 85% on closed sites
19
Fatigue management reduced incidents 25% in FIFO
20
Carbon capture pilots stored 1Mt CO2 in 2023
21
Fatalities 18 in mining 2022
22
LTIFR 2.8 per MH 2022
23
95% mines zero fatalities 2023
24
50,000ha rehabilitated 2022-23
25
Water use 1,200GL mining 2022
26
Renewables 25% energy 2030 target progress 2023
27
Scope 1/2 emissions 80MtCO2e 2022
28
Biodiversity offsets 100,000ha 2023
29
Dust reduction 30% new tech 2022
30
Tailings 100% audit compliance 2023
Interpretation
Health, Safety, and Environment Interpretation
While the industry still mourns eighteen lost lives in 2022, the collective push—from slashing emissions and dust with new tech, to healing landscapes and minds—shows a sector painfully aware that its true measure isn't just what it extracts, but what it protects and leaves behind.
05 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2022-23, Australia produced 918 million tonnes of iron ore, accounting for 53% of global production
02
Western Australia's iron ore production reached 876 million tonnes in 2022-23, representing 95% of Australia's total
03
Australia exported 898 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022-23, valued at A$136 billion
04
Gold production in Australia totalled 314 tonnes in 2022, with Western Australia producing 62% of the national total
05
BHP's Western Australia Iron Ore operations produced 260 million tonnes of iron ore in FY2023
06
Rio Tinto's Pilbara iron ore production was 331.8 million tonnes in 2023
07
Australia produced 28.6 million tonnes of bauxite in 2022-23, mainly from Queensland and Northern Territory
08
Lithium production in Australia surged to 86,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in 2022-23
09
Coal production in Australia was 433 million tonnes in 2022-23, with black coal at 80%
10
Copper production totalled 813,000 tonnes in 2022, led by New South Wales and Queensland
11
Nickel concentrate production reached 154,000 tonnes in 2022-23
12
Zinc production was 1.2 million tonnes of concentrate in 2022
13
Lead production stood at 566,000 tonnes in 2022, primarily from Western Australia
14
Rare earth oxide production was 18,000 tonnes in 2022-23
15
Manganese ore production totalled 9.2 million tonnes in 2022
16
Uranium production was 6,269 tonnes of U3O8 in 2022
17
Diamond production reached 12.5 million carats in 2022, mainly from Argyle mine closure impact
18
Ilmenite production was 1.1 million tonnes in 2022-23
19
Antimony production totalled 4,500 tonnes in 2022
20
Silver production was 1,300 tonnes in 2022
21
Australia produced 918 million tonnes of iron ore in 2022-23, 53% global share
22
WA iron ore output 876Mt, 95% national total 2022-23
23
Gold output 314t, WA 62% share in 2022
24
Bauxite 28.6Mt from QLD/NT 2022-23
25
Lithium concentrate 86kt, record high 2022-23
26
Black coal 346Mt, total coal 433Mt 2022-23
27
Copper 813kt, NSW/QLD lead 2022
28
Rio Tinto Pilbara 331.8Mt iron ore FY2023
29
Nickel 154kt concentrate WA dominant 2022-23
30
Zinc 1.2Mt concentrate 2022
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Australia's mining industry, which seems to have won the geological lottery and is cashing the cheque with both fists, is essentially an iron ore empire run by Western Australia that also manages to be a global gold, lithium, and coal powerhouse on the side.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Australian Mining Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-mining-industry-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Australian Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australian-mining-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Australian Mining Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-mining-industry-statistics.
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