PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Specialist resources recruiter DFP Resources has reported the third consecutive month of decline in its job index.
The index dropped 2.5% in July, to 72.77, showing a total decline of 9.8% for the quarter.
DFP said the trend did not indicate any dramatic overnight fall, but rather a steady erosion in demand, adding that the decline could not be attributed to single events, but rather a combination of factors.
The index revealed that permanent job opportunities in the resource sector, which includes the oil and gas industry, had fallen to a new low of 65.44, a one-third decline in demand, while temporary and contract roles now represented 44.9% of all advertisements.
Western Australia has seen the biggest share of resource job losses, with the state now accounting for only 56.21% of all resource jobs, down 3.98% since March this year.
The Queensland job market has stabilised, with demand falling only 4.4% in the last quarter.
The DFP Resources index mirrored estimates from the Department of Employment, which recently revealed that some 12 300 jobs would be shed in the resources sector by November 2018.
The majority of the job losses would be recorded in the metal mining sector, which was expected to reduce workforce numbers by some 6 200, while exploration staff would also be reduced by some 5 400. The coal mining industry was expected to lose some 5 100 employees during this time.