Mining spending and jobs hit new records in the Hunter

Results from the NSW Minerals Council’s latest annual Member Expenditure Survey have confirmed mining’s continued critical economic role in the Hunter with record regional spending and the highest number of Hunter mining supplier businesses in six years.

In the last financial year, participating mining companies also supported over 16,000 jobs in the Hunter. While a slight decrease on the previous year, this is still near record levels and almost 5,000 more jobs than when the survey was first taken over a decade ago.

$9.4 billion of direct mining spending was injected into the Hunter economy in the last financial year – an increase of around $600 million on the previous year and the highest survey result ever reported. Since the survey was first conducted, mining’s direct spending in the Hunter has more than doubled from $4.6 billion to $9.4 billion.

This $9.4 billion of direct mining spending in the Hunter last financial year included almost $2.3 billion on wages and salaries, and over $7 billion for goods and services purchased from almost 3,410 mining supplier businesses across the Hunter region.

This is the highest number of mining supplier businesses in the Hunter for six years.

The $9.4 billion in direct mining spending in the Hunter is also estimated to have contributed 26% of the GRP of the Hunter region’s economy during the last financial year.

“Mining operations in the Hunter have broken local spending records for the second year in a row, while supporting a near record number of local mining jobs, highlighting the importance of mining for local communities and the region’s economy,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

“The ongoing strength of the mining industry continues to provide a solid foundation for Hunter economy, and with the right policy settings this can continue for many years to come.”

Contact: Brad Emery | bemery@nswmining.com.au | 0450620254