Polling suggests subsidised housing and living costs could be the key to encouraging FIFO workers to switch to a residential role in Kalgoorlie.
New polling suggests subsidised housing and living costs could be the key to encouraging FIFO workers to switch to a residential role in Kalgoorlie.
More than 100 people working in the Australian mining industry took part in the August 2020 survey, which asked what it would take for them to move to Kalgoorlie-Boulder to take up a residential mining job.
Respondents were asked to select three responses from a list, with the most popular preference being subsidised housing and living costs for residential miners, on more than 55%.
Higher wages also attractive
Close behind were higher wages for residential mining than for FIFO, on 55%. The third most popular incentive was cheaper airfares so miners could visit their families more easily and affordably.
Here’s how the full results washed out:
|
Subsidised housing and living costs for residential miners |
55% |
|
Higher wages for residential mining than I can earn FIFO |
55% |
|
Tax relief and tenure bonuses for residential miners |
34% |
|
Offers of cheaper airfares so I can visit my family easily/affordably |
39% |
|
Additional annual leave |
29% |
|
If mining companies offered training opportunities |
30% |
|
A really good promotional/career advancement opportunity |
36% |
|
Subsidised private education for the children of residential miners |
22% |
|
A clearer understanding of the benefits of living in Kalgoorlie |
17% |
|
I would not move to Kalgoorlie for a mining job |
17% |
The results suggest mining industry employees are more likely to be motivated to move to Kalgoorlie if the financial incentives are right, than for other benefits—like extra annual leave or subsidised education for their children.
Most would consider a job in Kalgoorlie
Respondents were also invited to provide other incentives they might find attractive in the comments. Among the responses were eight-hour shifts, better accommodation for families, and better schools.
It’s notable that 17% of people said they would not move to Kalgoorlie. We wanted to explore that idea a little more deeply in this survey, so we also asked respondents how likely they were to ever consider moving to Kalgoorlie for a mining job. Here’s what we learned:
These results are perhaps more encouraging for mining companies operating in Kalgoorlie and for the city authorities, who are desperate to attract workers to the Goldfields to alleviate the skills shortage. They suggested 93% of people are at least potentially persuadable, and a quarter are actually very keen.
If you’d like help finding local talent for your mine site, get in touch with Mining People. If you’re looking for a job in the mining industry, make sure to register your details with us.