The resources sector is responsible for half the country's exports and employs more than 260,000 people directly and 1 million indirectly.

Employment in the sector grew 8.5% between February and November last year to create more than 20,000 roles, with that growth expected to continue.

Released by resources minister Keith Pitt, the national resources workforce strategy addresses industry trends and outlines measures of opportunity, participation and quality.

These include working with industry to plan for job creation and skills demand and supporting local employment, particularly in regional communities.

Pitt said the strategy complemented the government's JobMaker plan and brought together education and training initiatives to support participation and future growth.

"The resources sector has been a standout through the global COVID pandemic," he said.

"It's continued to grow despite the pandemic and border disruptions at a time when it is more important than ever that Australians have access to jobs and opportunities."

As part of the strategy $30 million will be spent on a new school of mining and manufacturing at the Central Queensland University and $585.3 million invested in vocational education and training.

This includes $6 million for a pilot program on Industry 4.0 technologies

A set of industry principles will also be developed with the Minerals Council of Australia to promote a best-practice industry approach to local, regional and Australian employment and procurement practices.

The plan aims to boost participation of women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in resources as part of the $68 million Indigenous advancement strategy and $30 million Indigenous STEM education project.

The national resources workforce strategy will also try to reshape the resources vocational training system through a mining skills organisation pilot, part of its $585.3 million delivering skills for today and tomorrow package.

"The sector relies on certain skills to unlock new resources potential and productivity and to maintain our status as a world-leading supplier of resources and energy," Pitt said.

"This new strategy aims to help the sector meet its need for skills, and to promote resources job opportunities and training to Australian workers."

Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable said the strategy would increase awareness about the diverse and rewarding opportunities available to Australia's minerals and resources workforce. 

"Making more people job-ready for a rewarding career in Australian mining means making more relevant and contemporary information available about career options along with access to qualifications delivered by training providers who can help meet changing industry and worker expectations," she said.