As activity and commodity prices across the resources sector ramp up, so too have job vacancies across Australia.

According to online jobs site Seek, there were 70 per cent more vacancies in the sector for the month of May alone, compared to 2016.

Mining job demand by state Western Australia

Geologists

Drill and blast specialists

Metallurgists Queensland

Dragline operators

Diesel fitters

Drill and blast Northern Territory

Mechanical fitters

Electrical fitters

Diesel fitters

Supervisors

Engineers South Australia

Rubber liners

Belt splicers New South Wales

Mechanical fitters

Boilermakers

Diesel mechanics Victoria

Mechanical fitters

Plant operators Source: Hays Recruitment

That is reflected in the quarterly mining jobs report by global recruitment agency Hays.

Hays national head of mining Chris Kent said although jobs categories differed across states, the overriding theme was that the positions were in areas that impacted on efficiency and productivity.

"Any roles associated with that, and ensuring supply chains run smoothly are obviously important," he said.

"And the jobs are across the range, from shutdown workers to drill and blast specialists, fitters and mechanics and engineers from all disciplines.

"Obviously the coal and iron ore mines, where a lot jobs were based, that's also where a lot of jobs were lost. They're now hiring."

Impact of automation

Despite the high-profile move of the sector to automation, such as using autonomous trucks and trains, Mr Kent said it would be some time before robots replaced humans in the sector.

"That's a long time away yet I'm afraid," he said.

"As much as autonomy is impacting on trucks and drilling rigs for example, I think there's probably been an overreaction to how much it will impact the industry.

"Many Australian mines are already well into their mine life, and it's very difficult and expensive to retrofit existing mines to the automation."

Mr Kent said it was an optimistic time across the resources sector, and he encouraged workers to "look at it again if you've been there before".

"It's time to dust off the CV and make sure your tickets are up to date, and get back amongst it," he said.

Casualisation of workforce to increase

Using a casual workforce has been an emerging trend in mining over the past few years, and Mr Kent expects that to continue

"I've got to say that there's very much still a bias towards casual roles," he said.

"Employers are taking the opportunity to 'try before they buy' so to speak.

"They'll put workers on a swing [shift work] for maybe six months, and then if they like what they see, they'll make them permanent.

"But some major employers are quite openly casualising the entire workforce, like some of the iron ore miners for example."

Oil and gas sector jobs after scrapping of 457 visa

When the Federal Government announced it was replacing the 457 skilled migration visa, a lot of mining, oil and gas positions were no longer available to overseas workers.

Industry group the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) lobbied to have some of the category decisions overturned.

Executive director Tara Diamond said contrary to public perception, 457 visa holders made up less than 2 per cent of the resources workforce.

"But while the number itself is small, these were specialist roles that can be crucial to the development, maintenance and operations of resource installations," she said.

"Without them [457 visa holders] some of those very specialist jobs, which may include using proprietary pieces of equipment, a number of offshore operations wouldn't have come about."

Ms Diamond said overseas workers were still needed for some highly specialised roles.

"The categories that have been removed and that AMMA is most concerned about relate to vessel operation and onshore and offshore drilling," she said.

"[And] some air transport operations and a number of occupations in engineering and earth science."

Ms Diamond said AMMA was continuing to work with industry to provide further feedback to the Federal Government as it continued to lobby for changes.