Griffith University’s Associate Professor Bradley Bowden has discussed the success and downfalls of the Queensland coal industry, during a visit to CQU.

Professor Bowden has researched the trends in the Queensland coal industry over the past 30 years, particularly the changes in employment in the sector.

He believes the contracting out of work to be a major factor in the general shift towards less secure and regulated employment arrangements.

He discussed recent trends in the industry including the overall rise in employment, increased reliance on contractors, falling productivity, and periods of employment and residential instability as permanent workers are replaced by contractors.

He compared the Queensland industry to Canada's industry, which has not resorted to the contracting out of work.

Professor Bowden said Central Queensland mining towns have been adversely affected by the lack of permanent employment.

He said local councils have struggled to continue to provide the same level of service enjoyed by these communities when the towns were fully occupied by permanent staff. Small business owners have been forced to close because the reduction in trade has not enabled them to earn a living.