Recruit skilled Filipino workers for Australian mining and resources

The mining workforce Australia cannot fill

Jobs and Skills Australia's June quarter 2026 survey shows Outer Regional, Remote and Very Remote Australia with the highest recruitment rate (53 %) and the highest recruitment difficulty (52 %) of any region, and Technicians and Trades Workers with the highest difficulty of any occupation group (58 %). That is the maintenance workforce of the Pilbara, the Goldfields, the Bowen Basin and the Hunter.

The Philippine supply for mining is specific: boilermakers and welders from shipyards and Gulf fabrication, diesel fitters from Gulf and Asian mine sites, mechanical fitters from process plants, electricians from industrial installation. FIFO rosters and camp life are familiar to a workforce that has spent decades on Gulf contracts.

What is sponsorable, and what is not

• Core Skills stream — Metal Fabricator, Fitter (General), Fitter-Welder, Diesel Motor Mechanic, Welder (First Class), Electrician, and professional roles such as Mining Engineer, Metallurgist and Mine Deputy are on the Core Skills Occupation List. Trades Recognition Australia's skills assessment is mandatory for Philippine passport holders in the trade occupations.
• Labour agreement only — earthmoving plant operators, haul-truck drivers and process operators are not on the list. The Pilbara DAMA lists heavy diesel mechanics and boilermakers with concessions; Western Australia's state-wide DAMA reserves occupations such as Excavator Operator for regional WA; Queensland has DAMAs for Far North Queensland and Townsville North Queensland. We check the list that applies to your site before quoting.

How we run a mining recruitment round

Trade tests at Prime Search's Makati workshop to your procedures — fabrication from drawing, heavy-engine diagnostics, hydraulics, industrial electrical — watched live by your maintenance superintendent. Candidates are briefed on the roster, the climate and the camp before they interview, so the shortlist you see has already self-selected for FIFO. Skills-assessment files are built in parallel with your nomination. Everything here is subject to applicable Australian skills assessment, licensing, occupation and visa requirements.

Frequently asked questions

• Can you fill a full maintenance crew?

  Yes — boilermakers, diesel fitters, mechanical fitters and electricians in one round, each under its own occupation code.

• What about operators and truck drivers?

  Only through a DAMA or labour agreement that lists them; we check the current list for your region and tell you before you commit.

• Do you understand FIFO?

  Yes. Gulf contracts are camp-based; the candidates we present have done rosters before, and we brief every one on yours.