{"id":274868,"date":"2025-04-22T10:19:55","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T10:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/?post_type=hr-glossary&p=274868"},"modified":"2025-04-22T10:19:57","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T10:19:57","slug":"what-is-fifo-work","status":"publish","type":"hr-glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.aihr.com\/hr-glossary\/what-is-fifo-work\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFO Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is FIFO work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FIFO stands for ‘fly in, fly out’. This is a common work arrangement in Australia, especially in industries like mining, oil and gas, construction, and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of relocating permanently, FIFO workers fly to the job site\u2014often in remote or regional locations\u2014and stay there for the duration of their shift rotation. This could be two weeks on and one week off, or eight days on and six days off, depending on the company and site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The employer typically covers the cost of flights to and from the worksite and organizes transport from the airport to the camp or site. FIFO workers usually stay in dedicated accommodation camps near the worksite. These camps are often equipped with essentials like private or shared rooms, catering services, laundry and cleaning services, and recreation facilities like gyms, TV rooms, or sports courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIFO work can offer high pay and job security, but it also comes with challenges, including long hours, isolation, and time away from family. It\u2019s a lifestyle choice that suits some more than others.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Industries where FIFO work is prevalent in Australia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FIFO work is a common employment arrangement in industries that operate in remote or regional areas where it\u2019s not practical for workers to live permanently. These sectors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mining industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The mining sector is the largest user of FIFO arrangements, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland. Approximately 50% of mining operations in Western Australia and 40% of the Bowen Basin workforce in Queensland rely on FIFO workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oil and gas industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FIFO arrangements are widely used for offshore oil rigs and remote processing plants. Around 5% of the FIFO workforce operates in this sector. Workers include engineers, technicians, and operators required for exploration and production activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Large-scale infrastructure projects like dams, highways, railways, and renewable energy installations often employ FIFO workers due to their remote locations. This sector includes specialized roles like electricians, boilermakers, and civil engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The energy sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Renewable energy projects, including wind farms and solar plants in remote areas, increasingly use FIFO arrangements to attract skilled workers for construction and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n

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FIFO work schedules and rosters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FIFO work schedules are designed around rosters that split time between working on-site (\u2018on\u2019 time) and time off at home (\u2018off\u2019 time). These schedules vary depending on the company, site location, and role, but they aim to balance operational needs with adequate rest for workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typical FIFO rosters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FIFO rosters are usually structured to maximize productivity during the \u2018on\u2019 period while providing a substantial break during the \u2018off\u2019 period. Common FIFO work schedules typically look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n