Cairns FIFO Coordinator Project
To develop links between resources
projects in remote locations and
skilled workers, including local
unemployed job seekers
Jeremy Blockey, Cairns-based FIFO Coordinator
Outcomes of the Cairns FIFO Project A flight path to jobs
Presentation to Mining the Territory Conference, Darwin
12 September 2013
Cairns FIFO Project (Flight Plan)
• National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
• DEEWR funded – SkillsDMC + Advance Cairns
• 2 year project – to August 2013
• Steering Committee – QRC, CMEWA, MCA-NT
Identify potential FIFO
workforce & pathways
Work with resource
companies, employment
agencies & RTOs
Link mining companies
with air services
Gather data on region’s
workforce demographic,
capacity & engagement Market the region to
resource companies &
personnel as a lifestyle
destination & point of hire
Conditions – 18+ Months Ago
• Resource exports tripling $60b$180b in past decade
• Commodity prices forecast above historic levels
• Construction/production expansion – 10,000s new jobs
• Skills shortages
Conditions – Today
Skills (Crew) Shortages • Pockets of opportunity (demand) – pockets of potential
(supply)
• Not about labour shortage – need skills
0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000
Cairns
Townsville
Fitzroy
Mackay
Darling Downs
Darwin
Pilbara
Population – Selected Regions (2011 Census)
Challenges – Turbulence
• Negativity towards FIFO
• Gravitational pull of southern capital cities
• Perception about Cairns
• Data scarcity
Targets – The Destinations
• QLD – north & central
• NT
• WA – northwest
• Construction
• Operational
International Mining (PNG) Routes
Northern Territory Routes
WA
NW Qld Routes
Central Qld
Cairns Connections
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Employment in Mining ('000s)Far North
Original Employment Level Data Four Quarter Moving Average (year to)
Source: DEEWR, Regional Industry Employment Tool - Queensland
FIFO Demographics – Loadsheets
• Data scarcity
• Survey of existing FIFO workers through Cairns Airport
• Understand the existing FIFO Workforce
• Survey of potential FIFO workers – job-seekers
• Identify the strengths & capabilities of potential FIFO job-seekers
• Public information sessions
• Online survey of job-seekers
Survey of Existing FIFO Passengers
• 197 surveys
• Demographics:
• 99% male
• Average age 41.2 years
• 80% married or de facto
• 50% had dependent children
• 5% Indigenous
• Experience:
• 8 years in resource sector
• 5½ years doing FIFO
• 3 years in current job
Survey: Wanting to join FIFO Queue – Job-seekers
• 213 surveys – online
• Demographics:
• 75% male / 25% female
• 64% 40 years or older
• 11% Indigenous
• 65% married or de facto
• ⅓ had dependent children
• Years Experience:
• Half have 20+ years
• Quarter have 11-20 years
Survey: FIFO Job-seekers • Interest in FIFO:
• 75% would deploy anywhere
• +20% depending on factors
• Preference: FNQ/NWQ–CQ/NT–WA
• Adult apprenticeship suited:
• 44% experienced in trade area
Without formal qualification (partially completed
trade, been TA for 4+ years, aligned/OS/Defence
trade) – suited for NAP
Outcomes – the Landing
Residential, 1,800
FIFO, 2,605
FNQ Workforce In Mining
FIFO - w/in FNQ
FIFO - NWQ
FIFO - CQ
FIFO - NT
FIFO - WA
FIFO - PNG
Data: Cummings Economics, FIFO Workforce in the Cairns Region - June 2013
• FIFO Growth – 500 additional FIFO workers
• FIFO employment of 2,605 = $334 million wages
• BMA recruiting 250 FIFO workers for CQ coalmines
Future – Cairns Hub
• Cairns FIFO, Supply & Services Hub
• Advance Cairns with regional partners
• Targeted opportunities – eg NT
Conclusion – A FIFO Journey
• Capacity – population base to support resources growth
• Current under-employment / high unemployment
• Applicable skills & experience
• Job-seeker desire for resources sector/FIFO jobs
• Existing capability and hub for FIFO
• Leverage into other supply & servicing opportunities
Cairns FIFO & Supply Hub – Contact
• Jeremy Blockey, M: 0438 382 020
• E: [email protected]
• W: www.blockey.com.au
• www.fifocairns.com.au
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