A new survey confirms billions in spending and record mining jobs in the NSW Hunter region.
The annual membership expenditure survey, conducted by the NSW Minerals Council, has confirmed record spending in the Hunter economy. The survey group included 27 participating local mining companies.
The NSW Minerals Council reports that mining companies supported roughly 13,580 jobs in the region. This figure is an increase of 330 from last financial year, as well as the second highest number of jobs reported in the survey’s decade-long life.
A total of $6.3 billion was directly injected into the Hunter economy by mining companies throughout the last financial year. This figure is not only an increase of $200 million from the previous year but is also the equal highest results reported in a decade.
Of the $6.3 billion spent in the region, $1.6 billion went to wages, while $4.7 billion went to goods and services, which were purchased from over 3000 local mining supplier businesses.
This is the third consecutive year that direct spending in the region (by the mining industry) has been over $6 billion, according to the NSW Minerals Council
The NSW Minerals Council said after economic analysis these survey results confirm that the $6.3 billion contribution by mining companies contributed 30 per cent of the gross regional product (GRP) of the Hunter’s economy in the last financial year.
“These very strong results highlight the importance of mining for the Hunter’s economy, and for mining communities across the region,” NSW Minerals Council chief executive officer (CEO) Stephen Galilee said.
“Mining clearly continues to provide economic strength and stability to the Hunter, supporting thousands of Hunter families and businesses.
“With an election approaching, these strong results are a timely reminder of the importance of a strong mining sector for the future of the Hunter.
“Thousands of Hunter locals will head to the polls on election day at least partially considering their vote based on who will best support a strong mining sector into the future.”