Activity is picking up again in north-west Queensland. Drilling programs are ramping up and several copper operations, including the Capricorn Copper mine north of Mount Isa, are preparing to restart before the end of the year. But according to a report by ABC News, mining companies in the region are increasingly worried that a lack of skilled workers could slow these projects down and affect production.
A region rich in resources, short on people
The North West Minerals Province holds an estimated $680 billion in mineral resources, with around 85 critical minerals projects underway. Companies such as AIC Mines, which operates the Eloise copper mine near Cloncurry, say finding locally based skilled workers is a challenge across the sector, with fly-in fly-out crews often used as a fallback.
At a national level, the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association projects that the mining industry will need 24,000 new workers by 2027. The Queensland Resources Council expects the shortage to continue for years. It points to competition from large construction projects in the south-east of the state and fewer young people entering trades and mining careers.
What it means for drilling operations
When experienced operators and maintenance technicians are hard to find, equipment uptime becomes even more valuable. Every unplanned stoppage of a drill rig ties up people who are already in short supply. Operations can reduce that risk with planned maintenance, early replacement of wear parts, and fast, reliable access to spare parts. These measures keep rigs drilling with the crews they already have.
At Razor Spare, we supply high-quality alternative spare parts for rock drilling equipment, helping operations worldwide reduce downtime and keep maintenance costs under control.
Source: ABC News – “Outback mining companies concerned workforce shortage will affect production”, 27 October 2026.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-27/outback-mining-jobs-queensland-workforce-shortage/107308390
This article is an original summary prepared by Razor Spare based on the source above.