A new study from SafetyCulture has found those working in Australian resources sector are more satisfied with their job compared to any other frontline industry.

Now in its fourth year, the Feedback from the Field research report surveyed over 10,000 frontline workers worldwide, 2000 of which were in Australia, from July to August this year.

Aiming to shed light on the current sentiment and challenges among frontline workers, the study explores topics like job security, the cost of dissatisfaction and the impacts of skills and labour shortages.

Statistics gathered from the core data revealed Australian resources workers are the most satisfied with their job compared to all other industries surveyed, with 89 per cent satisfied with their jobs, compared to 83 per cent overall.

But across the industry, the report found areas for improvement.

While it was found workers are relatively confident that their skills will be future-proof, with only 37 per cent of workers concerned about their roles being automated in the future, tools and IT were common causes for frustration.

Those who aren’t fully satisfied with their tools say they’re outdated (36 per cent), unfit for purpose (31 per cent), or they haven’t received adequate training on how to use them (29 per cent).

As the resources industry is constantly evolving, it is essential that mines keep up with the latest advancements on offer from original equipment manufacturers and technology experts to improve workers’ experiences.

These developments have the potential to lead the industry into a new era where more people with different skill levels and abilities are called to the sector and can find a place where they are able to contribute to the future of the industry.

The resources industry was also revealed to have the highest rate of workers who feel skills and labour shortages will become a critical issue in the coming years.

In addition, around three out of four workers reported feeling dissatisfied with some aspect of their job.

This year the top cause of dissatisfaction among these workers is slow response to resolving issues or risks.

“If workers are pressured to put profit before protocol, workplace culture could be impacted while posing significant risks to health, safety, and quality,” the report said.

The report specifically called on employers to consider how to attract younger generations to mining and resources roles.

“It’s a clear message to leaders: keep young workers engaged, challenged, and growing, or risk losing them,” the report said.

Subscribe to Safe to Work to get the safety news that matters to the Australian mining industry.