Speaking at the Australasian Oil and Gas Conference in Perth this morning, Collier said with around $267 billion worth of projects in the pipeline, the state faced a potential labour shortage of 76,000 workers by 2015.

“The recent Deloitte Access Economic investment monitor reported $267 billion worth of confirmed or potential projects in Western Australia,” he said.

“These are exciting times but we have to build the workforce and skills base needed to make the most of these opportunities.

“We can’t do this alone. We must do this with industry.”

According to Collier, there are around 92,000 workers directly involved in the mining and oil and gas industries. Of those 92,000 workers, 3950 workers or 4.2% are in training.

“That is one of the lowest participation rates in training in any industry set in the state,” he said.

“With all due respect, I think the mining and resource sector can do more in that space.”

The building and construction sector has just over 6% of workers in training, manufacturing has around 6.4%, automotive has about 8% and electrical has more than 7%.

“In comparative terms, the mining and oil industries or the resources sector in a whole, need to lift their game in terms of those people in training,” Collier said.

“Rather than coming to bang on my door and talk about working towards a more seamless approach to skilled migration … give a little bit of thought to whether or not you’re doing all that you can to possibly train within Western Australia for Western Australia, for your industry set.

“And I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Collier plans to work with the resources sector over the next few months to improve training in the industry.

“I’d like to think that within a very short space of time, the mining sector as a whole can be up there with the building and construction industries, with the manufacturing industries and at least 6 per cent of your workforce can be directly involved in training,” Collier said.