Survey confirms billions in spending and thousands of mining jobs in the Hunter

Survey confirms billions in spending and record mining jobs in the Hunter

Results from the latest annual NSW Minerals Council’s latest Member Expenditure Survey have confirmed mining’s central role in the Hunter economy continues.

Participating mining companies supported over 13,580 jobs in the Hunter, an increase of over 330 jobs compared to last financial year and the second highest number of jobs reported in the decade-long history of the survey.

The same companies also directly injected $6.3 billion into the Hunter economy in the last financial year – an increase of $200 million on the previous year and the equal highest result reported in a decade.

This is the third year in a row that direct mining spending in the Hunter has been over $6 billion and the highest since the 2012-13 financial year.

The $6.3 billion of direct mining spending in the Hunter last financial year included over     $1.6 billion on wages and salaries, and $4.7 billion for goods and services purchased from over 3,000 mining supplier businesses across the Hunter region.

An economic analysis of these Survey results found the $6.3 billion of direct spending of the 27 participating mining companies in the last financial year contributed almost 30% of the GRP of the Hunter region’s economy during this period, up slightly from the previous year.

“These very strong results highlight the importance of mining for the Hunter’s economy, and for mining communities across the region. Mining clearly continues to provide economic strength and stability to the Hunter, supporting thousands of Hunter families and businesses,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

“With an election approaching, these strong results are a timely reminder of the importance of a strong mining sector for the future of the Hunter. Thousands of Hunter locals will head to the polls on election day at least partially considering their vote based on who will best support a strong mining sector into the future.”

ENDS

Brad Emery