Record levels of mining jobs and near-record levels of direct spending across New South Wales have been reported by the state’s Minerals Council, highlighting the sector’s importance to the local economy.

The NSW Minerals Council’s latest expenditure survey shows over 35,000 full-time equivalent jobs, an increase of almost 160 on the previous year and highlights the highest number of jobs reported in the survey’s history.

The survey also found participating companies directly injected close to $22 billion into the NSW economy over the same period, matching the previous year’s spending figure and nearly double the 2014/15 financial year figure of $11 billion.

The $22 billion in direct spending included $4 billion spent on wages and salaries, $14.2 billion for goods and services purchased from more than 7500 NSW businesses, and $3.6 billion in royalties and other taxes paid to the NSW Government.

The coal sector delivered the largest contribution to the NSW economy, delivering $19.3 billion in direct spending, including $3.4 billion in wages and salaries, and $12.5 billion with almost 5400 local supply businesses.

The state’s coal sector directly provided over 26,100 jobs and delivered $3.3 billion in royalties and other taxes paid to the NSW Government.

The metals mining sector delivered $2.6 billion in direct spending to the NSW economy, including $600 million in wages and salaries, and $1.6 billion with over 2800 local supply businesses.

“The mining sector’s contribution to the NSW economy is the one of the largest in the 14-year history of the survey, delivering more jobs than ever, spending $22 billion directly across the state, and supporting more than 7500 NSW businesses.” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said.

“In the current climate of economic uncertainty, it is vital that governments support industries like mining that deliver such stability to the economy. Approving mining expansion projects that secure jobs and economic growth for the future is good policy. New taxes and new red tape for an industry already drowning in compliance burdens is not good policy.”

Subscribe to Australian Mining and receive the latest news on product announcements, industry developments, commodities and more.