INTERNATIONAL Australia: Hot ‘orange collar’ mining skills revealed
28 March 2012
Demand for staff driven by mining and mining-related construction requires a new tranche of ‘orange collar’ workers to emerge, according to Hays.
Thurs, 2 Feb 2012
Demand for staff driven by mining and mining-related construction requires a new tranche of ‘orange collar’ workers to emerge, according to Hays.
The term ‘orange collar’ reflects the fact that such workers do not fit into white or blue collar categorisations, and Simon Whitfield, Hays’ senior regional director, describes three particular skills needed for such workers.First, the must be able to “cope with remote locations” and lifestyle challenges, secondly they must have the right training and skills as well as the right attitude to compliance, and thirdly they must “offer genuine long-term commitment” to long-term projects.
Whitfield says: “Together these factors significantly narrow the field of potential candidates. Given the sheer number of projects that are underway or about to start, there are many big company names in this industry that are all vying for the same group of candidates worldwide.”
Whitfield adds that the world of ‘orange collar’ working requires something of an adjustment, saying: “Unlike the familiar dress code in the white and blue collar world, most people in the orange collar world wear a hi-vis polo shirt, regardless of whether they are a geologist, bogger operator or the CEO. This can be very confusing for those in the white and blue collar world as they can never be quite sure who they are talking to!”
The in demand skills according to the latest Hays Quarterly Report fall roughly into two categories, the frontline technical roles, and back office or support positions.
Back office and support positions include:
Accountancy and finance professionals with mining and construction industry experience – for both head office and on-site FIFO (fly in, fly out) roles
Executives with industry experience
Commercial managers, financial controllers, finance planning and analysis managers and tax and treasury staff
Occupational health nurses and paramedics
Employee relations and industrial relations specialists
Energy and resources lawyers for both private practice and in-house roles
Business development managers.
Frontline technical roles include:
Heavy diesel fitters – this is the most in demand skill trade skill nationwide
Construction candidates in the modular, transportable housing sector needed for workers’ housing projects, including civil project managers and civil project engineers
Health & Safety advisors and superintendents.
A large number of different mining operative and engineering roles are identified, with specific regional needs detailed in the full report, available on Hays' website.
Demand for staff driven by mining and mining-related construction requires a new tranche of ‘orange collar’ workers to emerge, according to Hays.
The term ‘orange collar’ reflects the fact that such workers do not fit into white or blue collar categorisations, and Simon Whitfield, Hays’ senior regional director, describes three particular skills needed for such workers.First, the must be able to “cope with remote locations” and lifestyle challenges, secondly they must have the right training and skills as well as the right attitude to compliance, and thirdly they must “offer genuine long-term commitment” to long-term projects.
Whitfield says: “Together these factors significantly narrow the field of potential candidates. Given the sheer number of projects that are underway or about to start, there are many big company names in this industry that are all vying for the same group of candidates worldwide.”
Whitfield adds that the world of ‘orange collar’ working requires something of an adjustment, saying: “Unlike the familiar dress code in the white and blue collar world, most people in the orange collar world wear a hi-vis polo shirt, regardless of whether they are a geologist, bogger operator or the CEO. This can be very confusing for those in the white and blue collar world as they can never be quite sure who they are talking to!”
The in demand skills according to the latest Hays Quarterly Report fall roughly into two categories, the frontline technical roles, and back office or support positions.
Back office and support positions include:
Accountancy and finance professionals with mining and construction industry experience – for both head office and on-site FIFO (fly in, fly out) roles
Executives with industry experience
Commercial managers, financial controllers, finance planning and analysis managers and tax and treasury staff
Occupational health nurses and paramedics
Employee relations and industrial relations specialists
Energy and resources lawyers for both private practice and in-house roles
Business development managers.
Frontline technical roles include:
Heavy diesel fitters – this is the most in demand skill trade skill nationwide
Construction candidates in the modular, transportable housing sector needed for workers’ housing projects, including civil project managers and civil project engineers
Health & Safety advisors and superintendents.
A large number of different mining operative and engineering roles are identified, with specific regional needs detailed in the full report, available on Hays' website.
