But the sector claims it was now enduring the worst labour shortages of a generation and has called for major reforms to migration and skills recognition.

The coal mining regions of Mackay and Isaac in central Queensland have also been revealed to be at near record levels of employment.

Nationally, the Australian Resources and Energy and Employer Group expects the need for about 24,000 additional workers to fill roles in more than 100 projects that were either committed, in advanced feasibility or were expected to go ahead.

As many as 15,000 were expected to be needed by 2024, but as yet the workforce does not have the capacity to meet that need and AREEA chief executive Steve Knott said many in the industry were concerned about the projections.

“Demand for skilled labour will outstrip supply,” he said.

“Simply, unless industry and government can find some creative solutions, the skills crisis facing not only the resources and energy industry, but all sectors of the Australian economy, will persist for years to come.”

Reforms could be introduced as early as next week when Parliament sits and the Albanese Government sets out legislation around a new skills agency.

“The challenges we face to fill that demand are complex and will require great cooperation between government, industry and unions to address,” Knott said.

“A number of measures should be considered, ranging from VET system reform, faster cross-jurisdictional recognition of skills, and reforms to skilled migration processes designed to open up occupational eligibility and cut visa processing times.

“AREEA’s members also made very good use of the Commonwealth’s recent ‘Boosting Apprenticeships’ funding scheme to train new entrants into the industry. We will be encouraging the Albanese Government to continue that type of support.

“Skilled migration is also an important piece to this puzzle. Our borders have been largely shut for the past two years to temporary skilled migrant workers, who have always played a small but very important role in Australia’s labour market.

“The most common complaint our members have with skilled migration is processing times of six months or more. The system is bogged down by a long list of inefficient processes, many of which seemingly serve little purpose outside of making life difficult for employers.

“The Albanese Government could immediately slash visa processing times by two to three months, or more, by abolishing Labour Market Testing and opening up eligible roles for skilled migration.

“We must front up to this challenge or risk losing some of these long-term national opportunities,” Knott said.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the employment in the mining district of Mackay and Isaac regions was 102,000 in June, just shy of its record of 103,400 in 2014.

The data also revealed a big leap in the number of jobs created in Brisbane in June.

The raw figures indicated Greater Brisbane employment jumped by 13,000 in the month to a record 1.417 million. The inner city increased by about 3400. The rest of Queensland went backwards slightly to 1.366 million.