Thread: Boom Times in W.A

Yes Alan Kohler on ABC had a graph the other night comparing job vacancies in the various states. WA's were almost off the scale.

What's going on over there at the moment?

Is it because of the resources boom?

So the $38/hour over 8 days equates to $4.75/hour.

Originally Posted by maglite

Most probably know that we are going thru boom times here in WA.

I was talking with a guy yesterday and he was saying that his 17 year old son just got a job as a TA at one of the sites near here.
$29.50 per hour alongside $60.00 a day travel allowance.

At one of the local mines, labourers are getting $38.00 an hour, 4 days on , 4 days off.

Go West young (or old) man, Go West

Maglite, Shhhhhhh!!!!!
What were you thinking. We have to keep the uglies outa here
Les

It's a big issue over here. The FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) phenomenon and the general skills shortage is doing some funny things.

The problem is that many people are becoming "income trapped". That is , they become dependant on the 100k per year that they earn in some sheethole North east of Meekatharra. Their wife is lonely, they miss their kids growing up and they work 8weeks on for 1 or 2 weeks off. Most plan to do it for a few years to pay the mortgage off but then they realise that they can't quit because their lifestyle and 400k mortgage wont let them. So they have to remain remote and unhappy. I've seen this happen to a few people I know.

Those that do manage to reevaluate their lifestyle and come back to PErth then face the task of rebuildign their marriage to a poitn where it's a 365 days a year, not 45.

Having said that, I just got a new job with big payrise, mainly becasue of the mining industry. But I'm in Perth

Be no good me going over there no one employs "OLD PHARTS" any more.

Adam's right. It is a helluva problem.

My son spent 6 months working at a minesite last year. He was earning $300 per day on a fly-in, fly-out deal, 14 days on and 7 days off. He was able to complete a uni module while he was working at the mine so it didn't interfere with his education too much. He saved a fair amount of money which he used to bankroll a spell in Canada. That's where he is right now, working at a ski resort.

It was hard physical work as a driller's off-sider at a gold mine but he was fine. He's a strong, fit 24-year old. He's also single. Some of his workmates are in exactly the situation Adam describes. They're young people with a marriage, young kids and a big mortgage. They are trapped and they are unhappy. My son had several mates at the mine who felt seriously pressured by the problems of part-time married life with big debts and no obvious solutions.

Furthermore, the big wages offered by the mining companies are causing a problem for employers elsewhere within WA. It's hard to attract people into manufacturing industry with more normal wage rates when there are plenty of available mining jobs with big money on offer.

Incidentally, rod1949, I'd be interested to see the arithmetic on your calculation of $4.75 per hour.

Based on 4 x 12 hour days of work in 8 days of real time, that means you are paid ($38 x 12 x 4) $1824. Assume that you would work, in normal manufacturing circumstances, on 7 of the 8 days for, say, 10 hours for 6 weekdays and 5 hours on Saturday. Divide $1824 by 65 hours and you get an equivalent hourly rate of $28.06. At a minesite you also get free meals and accommodation, of course.

Originally Posted by rod1949

So the $38/hour over 8 days equates to $4.75/hour.

:confused::confused:
Not sure how you got that figure?? Perhaps my calculator is busted.:confused:

Might be a good time for one and all to strike a red-hot deal on a Felder machine! Make the most of my busted adding device!!

The rates quoted arent for fly in / fly out positions, they are for guys working in the south west of WA.
Most, if not all are home every night as the work is only about 60 km from Bunbury.
The minium wage for guys working on the train line would be in the vicinity of 80K i suspect.

I have been on fly in, fly out and has been said, as a young bloke it was great......i was doing 6 weeks on, 1 week off, but that was in the late 80's.

as a small business owner, it is impossible to get those kind of hourly rates........im starting to thuink that im in the wrong job.

Come and get ..those of ya lookin' to upgrade ya WW machinery!!

recent report in the papers of folk earning in the vicinity of 120k(annually) doing bar staffing/kitchen duties.

Get it whilst its hot,pun intended.

Cheers

hi,im new too these forums and am after some information, any help would be appreciated.Im a single 22 yr old boilermaker ,finished my apprentiship nearlly 2 years ago,from sydney and am interested in finding work in w.a. Im interested in fly in / fly out and making some decent money 2 set myself up with.Ive been thinking about this for quiet some time but havnt really done much research on the topic. Basically whats the best way of going about finding the work and negotiating pay/living conditions/f/i/f/o etc. Is it best to apply for jobs on the internet or take a flight up there and try my luck? is any one on these forums involved in this aspect of the industry??
cheers.

metalfabricator

You should be able to find advertised jobs on the internet. Try Googling "mining jobs in WA".

Flying "up there" isn't a viable option. Most of the recruiting is handled by recruitment companies. They are based in the various capital cities (many are in Perth, of course, but the bigger companies have offices all over Australia).

The mining boom is still on and there are plenty of jobs available.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Driver

Furthermore, the big wages offered by the mining companies are causing a problem for employers elsewhere within WA. It's hard to attract people into manufacturing industry with more normal wage rates when there are plenty of available mining jobs with big money on offer.

It seems to be fairly widespread. My brother just can't get a farmhand on his farm for under $60,000 with accomodation and other perks and its only 3 hrs from Perth. I think he'd be better giving up the running of a farm and either work in the mines himself, or work for another farmer with less stress!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by LineLefty

It's a big issue over here. The FIFO (Fly In/Fly Out) phenomenon and the general skills shortage is doing some funny things.

The problem is that many people are becoming "income trapped". That is , they become dependant on the 100k per year that they earn in some sheethole North east of Meekatharra. Their wife is lonely, they miss their kids growing up and they work 8weeks on for 1 or 2 weeks off. Most plan to do it for a few years to pay the mortgage off but then they realise that they can't quit because their lifestyle and 400k mortgage wont let them. So they have to remain remote and unhappy. I've seen this happen to a few people I know.

Those that do manage to reevaluate their lifestyle and come back to PErth then face the task of rebuildign their marriage to a poitn where it's a 365 days a year, not 45.

Having said that, I just got a new job with big payrise, mainly becasue of the mining industry. But I'm in Perth

When this boom cools down there'll be bankruptcies, suacides, split marriages, divorce and lots of other social problems in this beautiful state of hours. The people working in Perth, being loyal to their jobs and employers are not seeing the spinoff from these booms. Prices go up around them but their wages can't compete. Its a bit like a 'gold rush' and we know that there are only ever a few winners in the end.........
The BIG GUYS!

NEIL, WE NEED SPELLCHECKER ON HERE MATE!

The mining boom is dependent on the manufacturing needs of China. If you believe the media, this will continue without a let up for the next 15 years at least.

The demand for labor, both skilled and unskilled, has seen an unpresidented influx of migrants into WA, especially Perth. As a result the property prices have doubled and trippled, and there is a typical two-year wait for the construction of a new home. Even with increasing mortgage rates, there is not enough housing to go around. Builders are probably making more money than miners.

The average Joe in the street (sorry Gatiep ) does not see the benefits and instead collects the penalties of increased costs. One needs to be in a "demand" profession or job to really benefit. I think that most have seen salaries increase (I put my fees up and no one complained), but nothing like those in a position to hold employers and public to ransom (speaking metaphorically).

Regards from Perth

Derek