Australia’s minerals industry will need to find an extra 70,000 workers over the next decade to meet its demand for labour, according to a new report from the Minerals Industry National Skills Shortage Strategy (NSSS) Working Party. Buoyed by sustained global economic growth, employment in the minerals sector is projected to increase by 76% over the next decade, equating to more than 70,000 new positions, with significant gaps between supply and demand. Employment growth identified in this report predominates in Western Australia and Queensland with 42,000 and 15,000 positions projected respectively. Significant employment growth is also anticipated in the NSW and South Australian resources sectors. The demand for workers, in terms of absolute numbers, is expected to be most acute in trades and semiskilled positions, with the copper, nickel and bauxite/alumina industries experiencing the strongest growth. However, shortages in certain professional occupations and the challenge to attract enough people into these occupations will remain critical.