BHP sheds 300 Pilbara jobs as commodity prices fall

• BHP is cutting around 300 roles across its Western Australian iron ore operations, according to The West Australian.
• Operational and maintenance workers are bearing the brunt, with apprentices and trainees understood to be spared.
• The reduction covers roughly 2 per cent of a Pilbara workforce numbering about 16,000.

BHP Group Limited (ASX:BHP) is cutting about 300 Pilbara iron ore jobs, The West Australian reported.

Operational and maintenance workers are bearing the brunt, with apprentice and trainee roles understood to be spared.

“We are making some changes to ensure our WA iron ore business can continue to make a significant contribution to the Pilbara and WA and continue to be a major employer in the State. We will seek to redeploy people into other roles elsewhere in the business where possible,” a BHP spokesperson said.

The cuts come as BHP contends with falling steelmaking commodity prices alongside rising fuel, shipping and operating costs.

The roughly 300 roles represent about 2 per cent of BHP’s Pilbara workforce of about 16,000.

BHP has trimmed its iron ore workforce before, confirming around 3,000 cuts across the division in June 2014.

At close, the BHP share price was down 0.69% at $60.86.