Reported Offshore Headcount
1,000+
reported 15 Oct 2025 — Fortescue shifts mine safety roles to India - The Australian
Estimated % of Workforce
~6.2%
illustrative — not directly reported by the company
Destination Countries
Financial Context
Market Cap
$55.0B
Revenue
$18.2B
Net Profit
$5.7B
Estimated Wage Differential
~$85M/yr
Illustrative wage differential: if the 1,000+ reported offshore roles were instead employed in Australia at average local rates, the additional cost could be in the order of ~$85M/yr (~1.5% of reported net profit). This is an estimate based on industry averages, not company-specific data.
Would this company be profitable without offshoring?
Every dollar paid offshore leaves the Australian economy — reducing local wages, tax receipts, and economic circulation. Why it matters
Financial data: FY2024. Estimate uses avg AU employment cost of $110,000+/yr (incl. super and on-costs) vs offshore $25,000/yr (salary + on-costs). Actual figures vary by role, seniority, and location.
In Plain English
- In 2025, Fortescue was reported to have 1,000+ offshore contractors and staff.
- This represents ~6.2% when compared to its current workforce of 16,005 (illustrative comparison only — not directly reported by the company).
- 🇨🇳 1,000+ staff reported in China in Engineering.
- 700 Australian jobs have been cut.
Based on data from public sources at the dates reported. Figures may not reflect current headcount. See sources below for full attribution.
The Story
- 2024Fortescue abandoned its green hydrogen ambitions, shutting down Fortescue Future Industries and cutting approximately 700 positions globally. Chairman Andrew Forrest had spent years championing green energy as the company's future. [AFR]
- October 2025Fortescue cut approximately 700 more positions as it refocused on its core iron ore business. The company had pivoted away from its green hydrogen strategy after billions in investment failed to generate commercial returns. [SMH]
All facts sourced from public reporting. No editorial commentary. Click source links to verify.
Department Breakdown
| Department | Country | Headcount | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | 🇨🇳 China | 1,000 | Estimated |
Offshoring Timeline
| Date | Department | Country | Headcount | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Aug 2025 | Other | 🇮🇳 India | — | Estimated |
| 15 Oct 2025 | Engineering | 🇨🇳 China | 1,000 | Estimated |
Layoff Events
| Date | Headcount | Location | Department | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 2025 | 700 | Australia | engineering | Fortescue cut approximately 700 positions globally. Abandoned plans to manufacture green energy equipment in UK, instead consolidating EV motor production in China. Majority of losses in UK (1,000 of 1,100 Fortescue Zero staff are UK-based). |
Other Mining Companies That Offshore
Other companies in mining with reported offshore operations.
What Public Sources Say
All information below is sourced from publicly available documents and reporting. Excerpts are direct quotes. Click source links to verify.
“Fortescue cut approximately 700 positions globally. Abandoned plans to manufacture green energy equipment in UK, instead consolidating EV motor production in China. Majority of losses in UK (1,000 of 1,100 Fortescue Zero staff are UK-based).”
“Fortescue shifted mine safety administrative/support roles to India, causing confusion on mine sites.”
This profile is based on publicly available information at the time of publication. It may not reflect current operations and should not be treated as a complete picture. We publish what we can verify — not everything that exists.
Is something wrong or missing? Submit a correction. We welcome input from companies, employees, and researchers.