Job opportunities for Australians seeking employment within the resource sector are hitting new highs as the industry recovers from the global financial crisis, according to new research.

Bigdaw in its latest market report Australian Mining: No Slowing Down reveals the industry has all but recovered from the uncertainty of 2008-09.

Employment opportunities within the Australian mining industry are forecast to strengthen thanks to improving economic activity in north Asia and strong demand for energy and mineral products from China and India.

Qualified and experienced workers in particular are set to benefit, with a shortage of skilled labour likely to result in better employment terms and conditions.

The report highlighted the findings of the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce, which says confidence in the resources sector is strong.

"New job vacancy figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 30 June 2010 show the mining industry needed a record 6,200 new workers nationally in May 2010; far more than at any time during the mining boom of the previous decade," it said.

It also forecasts construction jobs on new projects could peak at 45,000 in 2012 and 2013.

Employment growth in mining operations is expected to be 4.9 per cent per annum during the next five years, creating around 61,500 new jobs by 2015 due to increased production, driven by demand from Asia, the report said.

    With mining investment increasing and planning for several major mining projects underway, it is anticipated the sector will experience a shortfall of 1700 mining engineers and 3000 geoscientists during the next five years as demand for their skills increases.

    In addition, it could be 36,000 tradespeople short by 2015.