A new report identifies 8000 workers are needed in the states resources sector immediately with a further 5000 needed by the middle of next year.
The crisis is being blamed on the pandemic as well a large amount of current and upcoming infrastructure projects in WA, NSW, Queensland, and Victoria resulting in national labour shortages.
SA Chamber of Mining and Energy chief executive Rebecca Knol says the report confirmed a skilled workforce was critical to the growth of the recourses sector and broader South Australian economy.
“While the pandemic has catalysed the skills shortage problem, it has also highlighted the urgent need for strategic planning if we are to avoid similar problems in the future,” she said.
Ms Knol said a campaign has been launched to help promote the wide variety of careers on offer in the mining sector.
South Australian Education, Training and Skills Minister Blair Boyer last week met with other state and federal Skills Ministers to discuss the growing skills shortage.
“We talked about providing a new skills agreement that funds additional training places and supports more students to not only begin their studies but also complete them,” he said.
Mr Boyer says skills are a critical priority for the state government.