Booming WA story attracts 300 callers to SBDC

More than 300 calls have been received by the Small Business Development Corporation after Sunday night's television coverage of Western Australia's booming employment opportunities.

The demand for labour and the record pay rates in the mining industries in the North-West of WA were featured in a 60 Minutes story on Channel 9.

BHP and Atlas Iron who featured in the report, have also been inundated with calls, with BHP receiving than 700 inquiries.

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There has been an overwhelming response from workers in the Eastern States to last night's television coverage of Western Australia's booming employment opportunities.

More than 300 calls had been received by the Small Business Development Corporation's 'Go West Now' help desk.

As well, BHP and Atlas Iron, who featured in the television report, have been inundated with calls, with BHP receiving more than 700 inquiries.

The demand for labour and the record pay rates in the mining industries in the North-West of WA were featured in a 60 Minutes story on Channel 9 last night.

Small Business Minister Margaret Quirk said the phones at the SBDC started ringing about 7am this morning.

"About 50 per cent of callers have a trade, which puts them at an advantage, however everyone is encouraged to register on the 'Go West Now' website and I do not expect the interest to die down soon," Ms Quirk said.

"People should be reminded however, to do their homework and make sure they have somewhere to stay and bring their trade papers and qualifications with them."

The 'Go West Now' campaign was launched by Premier Alan Carpenter on the eve of grand final day in September last year.

Since then there has been almost 95,000 visits to the 'Go West Now' website with more than 5,000 people registering interest in relocating to WA.

The next destination for the 'Go West Now' campaign is New Zealand in August when 20 private companies will join the Small Business Development Corporation's expo.