The Australian Institute of Geoscientists survey says 8.8% of geoscientists are unemployed, 1.6% remain compelled by employers to work reduced hours and 8.3% are unable to achieve their desired level of self-employment.

The hardest hit sector is mineral exploration where the unemployment and underemployment rate is 21.1%, a significant improvement on the 2009 first-quarter rate of 37.4% but well below the near full employment levels experienced in 2008.

According to the survey, 11.8% of geoscientists are compelled to work shorter hours, up from the March quarter figure of 6.7%.

Self-employed geoscientists are finding times particularly hard with 47.1% of unemployed or underemployed geoscientists unable to achieve their desired level of self-employment, a dramatic increase from 18.5% in the March survey and 36.4% in June.

The AIG says the survey shows that state government programs aimed at curbing a downturn in resource sector employment have been ineffective, with only 2% of unemployed or underemployed geoscientists able to access any form of government support.

However, there are some encouraging signs with the survey revealing a fall in the rate of unemployed and underemployed geoscientists seeking opportunities outside of the profession from 26% in June to 16% in the latest survey.

There was also an increase in confidence of returning to full employment within 12 months, from 50.9% in June to 63.5% in the latest survey.

"The decrease in the rate of unemployment and underemployment in the latest survey results is welcome, but is no cause for complacency," AIG vice-president Andre Waltho said today.

"Unemployment and underemployment among Australian geoscientists, particularly in mineral exploration, remains disturbingly high."

Waltho also expressed concerns over state and federal government inaction on exploration investment, which indirectly impairs the development of Australia's geoscience skills base.

"This in turn reduces our capacity to deal with important geoscientific issues, including management of groundwater resources, urban and engineering geology, assessment and mitigation of geological hazards, environmental remediation and even climate change," he said.

"These concerns remain very real and in urgent need of attention."