As reported in The Australian newspaper this week, over the past four months, West Australia’s full-time employment has risen. This would be great news for WA if it were not for the mining companies and recruitment agencies warning that the State will experience a wide spread skills shortage similar to 2007 and 2008.
Leigh Clifford former CEO of Rio Tinto told the Weekend Australian recently that shortage of skilled trades people not only in WA but across the nation were looming. He said “We probably do not have enough of these skills in training”.
A report by the WA Technology and Industry Advisory Council estimate the state would need more than 460,000 new workers by 2016; more than half of whom would need trade qualifications. According to this report, WA would fall short by 190,000 people. There is already a short supply of welders in WA.
Steve Heather, Perth-based managing director of recruitment agency for Mining People International said supply and demand were now “about right“ across the WA mining industry. He also said: “But if things continue the way they are in 3 to 6 months, it will be completely out of balance with lots of opportunity for inexperienced people again.”
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