AUSTRALIAN needs to double efforts to attract workers to fuel the growing needs of the WA resources sector, the state's Chamber of Minerals and Energy says.
The ongoing global demand for resources due to economic growth in China and India ensures that resources growth in the state will continue, pumping royalties into both state and federal coffers, the chamber's chief executive Tim Shanahan says.
But to meet this demand, Australia must overcome a skills shortage in the WA resources sector, he said.
Forecasts say 42,000 workers will be needed by 2015 to meet predicted rises in the state's minerals and energy output.
"it is essential that the government work together with the resources sector to protect the future of the sector,'' Mr Shanahan said.
"Although 42,000 is a large number, this number doesn't take into account the families of these people, and the people that will be needed to support these people.
"We really need to double our efforts to attract people from other places across Australia.''
In 2006, there were 21,500 overseas migrants to Western Australia and 3,100 migrants form other states, he said.
"We will need to continue this pattern of population growth.''
In 2006, the WA resources sector paid $1.9 billion to the state in royalties, he said.
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