The forecast represents preliminary figures from the group’s upcoming report on SA’s mining workforce requirements and indicates that the state’s resources sector jobs will balloon from the current level of 15,000 to 50,000 within 16 years.

This growth will coincide with an increase in SA resource and infrastructure endeavours from 20 operating projects to 60 resource and infrastructure projects.

The analysis, to be delivered at a resources productivity forum in Adelaide next week, is being touted as a first-ever comprehensive study of the state’s mining workforce.

“The precise data is begin finalised but there is no doubt that South Australia can look forward to a strong growth of mining-based employment across the three spheres of supply chain companies, developing mines and operational mines,” RESA chief executive Phil de Courcey said.

“It poses a serious challenge of where the state sources these employees and whether we can access the right talent pool in sufficient numbers to meet this rapid growth in workforce demand for advanced mining projects.”

RESA says its research points to an acute workforce shortage in some occupations, particularly by 2018.

Early indicators suggest the highest demand will be for crusher and dragline operators, exploration drillers, laboratory assistants, underground and open cut miners and mobile and process plant operators.

“The towns of the far north and Eyre Peninsula where many new mines are developing are likely to be the focus of regional employment growth,” de Courcey said.

“While many mines may have [fly-in, fly-out] camp facilities, some projects are likely to source local employees from towns such as Leigh Creek, Roxby Downs, Coober Pedy, Broken Hill, Port Lincoln Ceduna and Tumby Bay.

“These towns have an opportunity to look at their preparedness to sustainably attract this workforce to help meet demand.”

The longer-term job challenge follows on a RESA report earlier this year that found the number of workers employed in the sector would remain fairly constant over the next seven years.

However, the study considered only the 20 resource projects currently operating in the state and did not take into account the roughly 40 new mining projects to be commissioned.