Mining industry 'faces challenge to recruit workers'
28/07/2008(15:44)
New research claims that an additional 87,000 workers are needed in Australia's mining industry over the next 12 years.
A study commissioned by the Minerals Council of Australia reports that this figure equates to a 68 per cent increase on the current workforce levels.
The report by the National Institute of Labour Studies claims that the 215,000 workers will be needed in 2020, compared to 2008's figure of 128,000.
It projects that Western Australia will need the largest enlargement of workforce with almost 50,000 people needed.
Chris Fraser, the education and training director of the Mineral council, said that the report outlines "a challenge" for the industry.
"That challenge is to attract, train and retain workers in occupations that are in decline in the economy more generally," he added.
Recent figures from Australia's statistics bureau found that almost 30,000 workers were hired in the mining industry during June, Bloomberg reported.
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