WA Iron Ore Mines – One of the state’s biggest employers

Western Australia is one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore, with the Pilbara region in the state’s northwest accounting for the majority of the output.

Check out our top 5 amazing statistics about iron ore mining in Western Australia

1. In the 2020-21 financial year, Western Australia produced a record 900 million tonnes of iron ore, accounting for around 60% of the world’s seaborne trade.
2. The iron ore industry in Western Australia employs over 60,000 people, making it one of the state’s largest employers.
3. Iron ore is Australia’s largest export, with the industry generating over AUD 100 billion in revenue in 2020-21.
4. The world’s largest iron ore producer, Brazilian mining company Vale, has invested heavily in Western Australian mines, including a stake in the Rio Tinto-operated Brockman 4 mine.
5. China is the largest importer of Western Australian iron ore, with around 80% of the state’s exports going to Chinese steel mills.

So who are the big iron ore employers?! Check out our top 10 iron ore mining companies in Western Australia in terms of the number of mining workers that they employ. This totals almost 50,000 and with other smaller iron ore mines dotted across the state, it is clear that the iron ore sector is a major employer in WA.

Ten Major Iron Ore employers in Western Australia

1. BHP Billiton – around 16,500 workers
2. Rio Tinto – around 13,000 workers
3. Fortescue Metals Group – around 10,000 workers
4. Hancock Prospecting – around 2,000 workers
5. Mineral Resources – around 1,900 workers
6. Mount Gibson Iron – around 1,500 workers
7. CITIC Pacific Mining – around 1,300 workers
8. Karara Mining – around 1,000 workers
9. Roy Hill – around 900 workers
10. BC Iron – around 700 workers