A substantial talent gap is growing in the Australian mining sector, it has been claimed.

According to industry leaders, more needs to be done to address skills shortages in order to enable the resources field to flourish, the Australian reports.

The Australian Mines and Metals Association warned 86 per cent of firms operating in the sector now claim to have problems recruiting the experienced professionals they need to fill job vacancies.

Individuals seeking engineering jobs in Australia may be interested in comments made by the organization's chief executive Steve Knott that immigration criteria should be relaxed to permit businesses to hire people from overseas as productivity and growth are being impeded by the talent gap.

He stated more also needs to be done to attract women to the resources industry, adding: "The demand for highly skilled employees will only grow in years to come."

The Australian Bureau of Statistics recently revealed that unemployment remained stable at 4.9 per cent during May 2011.

Posted by Sarah Dixon