Over the past 12 months women’s participation rate in the sector has increased to 14 per cent, up from 11.3 per cent in 2007-08.
‘There was also a steady rise in the proportion of women working in ‘non-traditional’ roles, such as engineering, geology, operators and trades,’ said QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche.
‘In these roles, women made up 10.8 per cent of the workforce, compared to 9.8 per cent the previous year,’ he said.
‘The increasing proportion of women is reflected in the fact that from 2005-06 to 2008-09, female employment in the industry grew by 111 per cent, compared with male employment growth of 64 per cent and total employment growth of 70 per cent.
Article continues below…‘Of particular note is the significant increase in women working in executive and senior management roles. In 2005-06 they numbered just 22, but this figure increased to 110 for 2008-09, an increase of 400 per cent.
‘In that same time period, the proportion of female engineers rose by 62 per cent, geologists by 59 per cent, trades people by 275 per cent and operator/production employees by 207 per cent.
‘However, it should be noted that women still make up only 1 per cent of trades people, 8 per cent of operators/production employees, 12 per cent of engineers and 11 per cent of executive management, so we still have a long way to go,’ said Mr Roche.
There has also been a small increase in the percentage of women applying for jobs in the resources sector according to the survey results.
‘The QRC will continue over the next 12 months, through its Women in Resources Action Plan, to support its member companies in their efforts to attract and retain women,' Mr Roche said.
