Drilling

Training snapshot

There were roughly 3,640 program enrolments in Drilling-related qualifications during 2021 and approximately 1,140 completions. Since 2017 both enrolment and completion numbers have seen increases that peaked in 2019 with almost 5,240 program enrolments and just over 1,280 program completions, and have declined in the subsequent two years.

During 2021, enrolments were mainly in certificate III qualifications (42%) and certificate II level qualifications (41%). The main qualification area was Drilling Operations/Management (81%), and the main intended occupations for the training were Driller or Driller’s Assistant.

For enrolments in 2021, private training providers delivered more than 95% of training, with most of the remaining portion delivered by enterprise training providers. More than 91% of subjects were funded via domestic fee for service.

Students who enrolled in 2021 mainly resided in Western Australia (44%) and Queensland (33%). The training was also mainly delivered in Western Australia and Queensland, with around 48% and 39% of the training delivery respectively.

There were roughly 1,300 apprenticeship and traineeship commencements during 2021, an increase on the previous year when there were approximately 930 commencements. There were about 350 completions during 2021, which is roughly the same number of completions as in 2020. Apprentices or trainees in this sector have an intended occupation of Driller’s Assistant or Driller. Western Australia reported approximately 78% of apprenticeship and traineeship training, and around 9% of training was reported in New South Wales.

For more data specific to your occupation, industry group or training package, visit NCVER’s Data Builder.

For more data specific to your region, visit NCVER’s Atlas of total VET.

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Industry insights on skills needs

The Mining, Drilling and Civil Infrastructure IRC's 2019 Skills Forecast identifies the top priority skills for the Drilling sector as:

• Digital literacy
• Workplace safety practices
• Communication skills
• Problem solving
• Environmental sustainability.

The top generic skills listed in the Skills Forecast in order of importance to the industry are:

• Language, literacy and numeracy
• Design mindset/Thinking critically/System thinking/Solving problems
• Learning agility/Information literacy/Intellectual autonomy and self-management (adaptability)
• Technology
• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills.

According to the job vacancy data, the top requested generic skills by employers were communication and planning skills. The most advertised occupations in the Drilling sector were Other Miscellaneous Labourers, Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers, and Metal Fitters and Machinists. The top employers for workers in this industry were Barminco Underground Mining Specialists, and Mineral Resources.

The Mining, Drilling and Civil Infrastructure IRC's 2019 Skills Forecast also identifies several key issues affecting the skills and training needs within the Drilling sector:

• The emergence of new technologies such as sonic drilling, coil tube drilling and cyber-chair drilling is driving a need for skills in their operation and the maintenance and programming of the new equipment used on site.
• With the industry moving towards the use of autonomous drill rigs, there is an increasing need for workers with skills in interpreting data from machines.
• Industry has highlighted the need for training to be more closely aligned to the requirements of job roles for individuals in managerial and leadership positions and for well-servicing workers.

The Case for Endorsement for Project 2C/2G Drilling and Exploration, a continuing project discussed in the Mining, Drilling and Civil Infrastructure IRC's 2019 Skills Forecast, states the project aims to update and create training products for onshore oil and gas drilling and well servicing, construction-related drilling, and mining exploration in response to ongoing health and safety challenges and technological change, and to clarify and strengthen career progression pathways for drilling and well servicing workers. The training product changes made as a result of this project are:

• 13 qualifications were updated to clarify and strengthen career progression pathways for entry-level workers, including leasehands and floorhands, through to senior drillers and supervisors across onshore oil and gas drilling and well servicing, construction related drilling and mining exploration operations.
• Eight new units of competency were created to address training product gaps relating to new drilling technology including sonic drilling, coil tube drilling, rotary air drilling and cyber chair drilling.

For insights on skill needs for the broader resources industry, please visit the Mining, Drilling and Civil Infrastructure cluster page.

Below is a list of industry-relevant research, organisations and associations. Hyperlinks have been included where available.

IRC and skills forecasts

Drilling IRC

• Mining, Drilling and Civil Infrastructure IRC's 2019 Skills Forecast

• IRC membership

• PwC’s Skills for Australia – Skills Service Organisation

Relevant research

Case for Endorsement: 1L Blasting Methods, 1N Geotechnical Risks in Quarries, 1O Construction Materials Testing, 2B Common Skills, 2C/2G Drilling and Exploration, 2D Coal Mining – PwC’s Skills for Australia (document can be found under Release heading)

Regulatory bodies

Australasian Explosives Industry and Safety Group (AEISG)

Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

NSW Mining and Petroleum Competence Board

Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security

Queensland Department of Resources

South Australian Department for Environment and Water

Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – Mining and resources

Water NSW

Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

Safety regulators

Access Canberra

NT WorkSafe

Safe Work Australia

SafeWork SA

SafeWork NSW

WorkSafe Queensland

WorkSafe Tasmania

WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe Western Australia

Industry associations and advisory bodies

For industry associations and advisory bodies specific to Civil Infrastructure, Coal Mining, Extractive Industries and Metalliferous Mining sectors, please visit the respective pages.

Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT)

Australian Drilling Industry Association (ADIA)

International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)

National Uniform Drillers Licensing Committee (NUDLC)

Piling and Foundation Specialists Federation (PFSF)

State Training Advisory Bodies

Building, Construction, Resources and Infrastructure Training Advisory Body (BCRITAB) (NSW)

Energy Skills Queensland (ESQ)

Industry Skills Advisory Council Northern Territory (ISAC NT)

Resources Industry Training Council (RITCWA)

Employee associations

Australian Workers Union (AWU)

Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU)

Department of Employment 2021, Industry Employment Projections viewed 1 August 2021, Labour Market Information Portal

• by ANZSIC 3 digit industry, employment projections to May 2025
  
  • 101 Exploration
  • 109 Other Mining Support Services.

National Skills Commission 2022, Occupation Employment Projections viewed 10 August 2022, https://www.nationalskillscommission.gov.au/topics/employment-projections

• by ANZSCO, selected 4 digit occupations, employment projections to May 2026
  
  • 7122 Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
  • 3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists
  • 8219 Other Construction and Mining Labourers.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021, 6291.0.55.001 - EQ06 - Employed persons by Industry group of main job (ANZSIC), Sex, State and Territory, November 1984 onwards viewed 1 August 2022. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/may-2022

• Employed total by ANZSIC 3 digit '101 Exploration' and '109 Other Mining Support Services', 2002 to 2022, May Quarter.

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017, 2016 Census – employment, income and unpaid work, TableBuilder. Findings based on use of ABS TableBuilder data.

• Employment level by:
  
  • 10 Exploration and Other Mining Support Services
  • 4 digit level occupations to identify the relevant VET-related occupations in the industry as a proportion of the total workforce.

Training data has been extracted from the National VET Provider Collection, Total VET Students and Courses from the following training package or qualifications:

RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package:

• Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  
  • RII21109 - Certificate II in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII21113 - Certificate II in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII21115 - Certificate II in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII21120 – Certificate II in Oil & Gas Drilling (Onshore) and Well Servicing
  • RII32009 - Certificate III in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII32013 - Certificate III in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII32015 - Certificate III in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII32018 - Certificate III in Drilling Oil/Gas (Onshore)
  • RII32020 – Certificate III in Drilling Oil & Gas (Onshore)
  • RII41109 - Certificate IV in Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII41113 - Certificate IV in Drilling Oil & Gas (On shore)
  • RII41115 - Certificate IV in Drilling Oil & Gas (On shore)
  • RII41120 – Certificate IV in Drilling Oil & Gas (Onshore)
  • RII50809 - Diploma of Drilling Oil/Gas (On shore)
  • RII50813 - Diploma of Drilling Oil & Gas (On shore)
  • RII50815 - Diploma of Drilling Oil & Gas (On shore)
  • RII50820 – Diploma of Drilling Oil & Gas (Onshore)
• Drilling Operations/Management
  
  • RII20909 - Certificate II in Drilling Operations
  • RII20913 - Certificate II in Drilling Operations
  • RII20915 - Certificate II in Drilling Operations
  • RII20920 – Certificate II in Drilling Operations
  • RII31809 - Certificate III in Drilling Operations
  • RII31813 - Certificate III in Drilling Operations
  • RII31815 - Certificate III in Drilling Operations
  • RII31820 – Certificate III in Drilling Operations
  • RII40909 - Certificate IV in Drilling Operations
  • RII40913 - Certificate IV in Drilling Operations
  • RII40915 - Certificate IV in Drilling Operations
  • RII40920 – Certificate IV in Drilling Operations
  • RII50609 - Diploma of Drilling Operations
  • RII50613 - Diploma of Drilling Operations
  • RII50615 - Diploma of Drilling Operations
  • RII50620 – Diploma of Drilling Operations
  • RII60409 - Advanced Diploma of Drilling Management
  • RII60413 - Advanced Diploma of Drilling Management
  • RII60415 - Advanced Diploma of Drilling Management
• Well Servicing Operations
  
  • RII21213 - Certificate II in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII21215 - Certificate II in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII32213 - Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII32215 - Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII32218 - Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII32220 – Certificate III in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII41213 - Certificate IV in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII41215 - Certificate IV in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII41220 – Certificate IV in Well Servicing Operations
  • RII51013 - Diploma of Well Servicing Operations
  • RII51015 - Diploma of Well Servicing Operations
  • RII51020 – Diploma of Well Servicing Operations.

This includes superseded qualifications and training packages.

Data covers a range of selected student and training characteristics in the following categories and years:

• 2017 to 2021 program enrolments
• 2017 to 2021 subject enrolments
• 2017 to 2021 program completions.

Total VET students and courses data is reported for the calendar year. Program enrolments are the qualifications, courses and skill-sets in which students are enrolled in a given period. For students enrolled in multiple programs, all programs are counted. Program completion indicates that a student has completed a structured and integrated program of education or training. Location data uses student residence. Subject enrolment is registration of a student at a training delivery location for the purpose of undertaking a module, unit of competency or subject. For more information on the terms and definitions please refer to the Total VET students and courses: terms and definitions document.

Low counts (less than 5) are not reported to protect client confidentiality.

RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package apprentice and trainee data has been extracted from the National Apprentice and Trainee Collection, including:

• 2012 to 2021 commencements
• 2012 to 2021 completions
• apprentices and trainees in-training October to December 2021 collection, by qualification and state and territory of data submitter.

Job vacancy data have been extracted from Lightcast 2022, Labor Insight Real-time Labor Market Information Tool, Burning Glass Technologies, Boston, viewed August 2022, https://lightcast.io/apac.

Data shown represent most requested generic skills, occupations and employers according to internet job postings in Australia between July 2018 and June 2021 filtered by ANZSIC and ANZSCO classification levels listed below.

• Generic skills / Occupations
  
  • Labourers, Machinery Operators and Drivers, Technicians and Trades Workers
  • 10 Exploration and Other Mining Support Services
• Employers
  
  • 7122 Drillers, Miners and Shot Firers
  • 3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists
  • 8999 Other Miscellaneous Labourers
  • 3129 Other Building and Engineering Technicians
  • 7212 Earthmoving Plant Operators
  • 10 Exploration and Other Mining Support Services.