Kalgoorlie, Goldfields and Esperance recruitment: mining, trade, health and professional staff
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Esperance, Coolgardie, Leonora, Laverton and across the Goldfields-Esperance region hire professional, technical and trade staff, from graduates to experienced people.
Goldfields-Esperance at a glance
- of recruiting Kalgoorlie employers had difficulty recruiting
- 71%
- Latest survey, released September 2026: 42 employers, a small sample. Recruiting means recruiting or recruited in the past month (69%).1
- of employed residents work in mining, the largest industry
- 23%
- 6,043 of 26,271 employed residents, August 2021.2
- of Western Australia's mining jobs are at Goldfields-Esperance sites
- 26%
- 34,940 full-time-equivalent jobs in 2024–25, down from 38,063.3
- unemployment in Kalgoorlie-Boulder
- 2.5%
- June quarter 2026; also 2.5% in Esperance.4
Where are the Goldfields' mining jobs?
Mine sites across the region supported 34,940 full-time-equivalent jobs in 2024–25, about 3,123 fewer than a year earlier.3 The change was uneven: site jobs fell sharply in Leonora, Wiluna and Ravensthorpe and rose in Laverton, Menzies, Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Kalgoorlie, founded on the gold discovery of 1893, is still an important centre for the state's mining industry.5
In August 2021, 6,043 of the region's residents worked in mining,2 while the region's sites supported 34,940 full-time-equivalent mining jobs in 2024–25. Tell us whether your role is residential, FIFO or DIDO, its point of hire and its roster.
Full-time-equivalent mining jobs at sites in each council area, 2024–25 and 2023–24, and residents at 30 June 2025.3,6
| Council area | Mining jobs 2024–25 | Mining jobs 2023–24 | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laverton | 7,401 | 6,720 | 1,441 |
| Kalgoorlie-Boulder | 6,990 | 6,633 | 31,268 |
| Leonora | 6,496 | 8,035 | 1,724 |
| Coolgardie | 5,461 | 5,168 | 3,878 |
| Menzies | 4,387 | 3,808 | 578 |
| Wiluna | 2,430 | 4,373 | 567 |
| Dundas | 1,369 | 1,362 | 735 |
| All of Goldfields-Esperance | 34,940 | 38,063 | 58,646 |
Who employs Goldfields-Esperance residents?
The region's ten shires are home to 58,646 people, including 31,268 in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and 14,663 in Esperance.6,7 Mining employs nearly a quarter of residents; health care, schools, shops, construction, transport, hospitality and farming share most of the rest.2
Share of employed residents by industry, Goldfields-Esperance region (ten council areas), August 2021. Counts people where they live.2
| Industry | % of employed residents |
|---|---|
| Mining | 23% |
| Health care and social assistance | 8.6% |
| Education and training | 7.5% |
| Retail trade | 7.2% |
| Construction | 6.5% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 5.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 5.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 5.7% |
Which jobs are most advertised in the Goldfields?
Employers across the Goldfields, Esperance, the Mid West and the Gascoyne, which share one job-ads series, placed about 1,565 online job ads a month in the three months to September 2026, up from 1,423 a year earlier.8 Automotive and engineering trades lead, followed by drivers and storepersons and plant operators.
Online job advertisements by occupation group, Western Australia – Outback (South) SA4 (Goldfields, Esperance, Mid West and Gascoyne), three-month average to September 2026.8
| Occupation group | Job ads a month |
|---|---|
| Automotive and engineering trades | 194 |
| Drivers and storepersons | 112 |
| Machine and stationary plant operators | 102 |
| General-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists | 88 |
| Engineers | 70 |
| Sales assistants and salespersons | 70 |
| Medical practitioners and nurses | 67 |
| Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades | 59 |
How hard is it to hire in Kalgoorlie and Esperance?
Hard in both towns. In the latest employer surveys, released in September 2026, 71% of Kalgoorlie employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty, most often because applicants lacked technical skills or experience, there were no suitable applicants, or the location put people off.1 In Esperance, 56% of such employers had difficulty, for similar reasons and a simple lack of applicants.1 Both samples are small. Kalgoorlie's reported difficulty rate is higher than Esperance's and above the 55% recorded across regional WA;1 treat the town figures cautiously, because the source gives conflicting survey-period labels.
In Kalgoorlie, the employment plan says mining absorbs much of the available workforce, leaving shortages in hospitality, accommodation, childcare, health, aged care and disability services, and that turnover is high outside mining. It also names a lack of affordable housing and limited childcare.9 Esperance's plan names housing and childcare shortages, a small local workforce, seasonal swings, and young people leaving for study and not returning as graduates.10 We ask about housing, the roster and how long you need someone to stay before we start searching.
Which roles do we recruit in the Goldfields and Esperance?
Open a role type for demand, shortage ratings and what to put in your brief. Shortage ratings are for 2026; we count an occupation as in shortage if it is rated in shortage nationally or in regional areas.
Mining, processing and maintenance trades
Mechanical and heavy diesel fitters, electricians, boilermakers, drillers, and plant and haul-truck operators for mines, processing plants, contractors and workshops.
- Who hires
- 34,940 full-time-equivalent mining jobs were at sites in the region in 2024–25, led by Laverton (7,401) and Kalgoorlie-Boulder (6,990).3
- Demand
- Automotive and engineering trades averaged 194 online job ads a month to September 2026, and machine and stationary plant operators 102.8
- Shortage
- General fitters, diesel motor mechanics, general electricians, metal fabricators, drillers and earthmoving plant operators are rated in shortage nationally, and miners in regional areas.11
- Rosters
- Tell us whether the role is residential, FIFO or DIDO, its point of hire and its roster. We discuss travel and accommodation with candidates during screening.
- What to put in your brief
- The trade and tickets, the site and roster, the point of hire, inductions and medicals, and the award or agreement rate.
Mining engineers, geologists and technical staff
Graduate and experienced mining, mechanical, electrical and metallurgical engineers, surveyors, geologists and technical officers.
- Who hires
- Mining companies, contractors, consultancies and processing plants based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder or working sites across the region.
- Demand
- Engineers averaged 70 online job ads a month to September 2026 across the Goldfields, Esperance, the Mid West and the Gascoyne.8
- Shortage
- Mining, mechanical, electrical and civil engineers are rated in shortage nationally.11
- Local training
- Curtin University's Kalgoorlie campus is the base of the WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering.5
- What to put in your brief
- The discipline, the operation, the roster or residential base, the registration needed and, for a graduate, who will supervise their work.
Health, aged care, disability and childcare
Registered nurses, allied health professionals, and health administrators and managers, plus assistants in nursing, aged-care, disability and community support workers, and early childhood educators.
- Who hires
- Health care and social assistance employed 2,263 residents in August 2021, the second-largest industry.2
- Demand
- Medical practitioners and nurses averaged 67 online job ads a month to September 2026 across the wider job-ads region.8 Kalgoorlie's employment plan names health, aged care, disability and childcare among the industries short of staff.9
- Shortage
- Aged care registered nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and aged or disabled carers are rated in shortage nationally, and enrolled nurses in regional areas.11
- What to put in your brief
- The registration, the setting, the shift pattern, any housing or relocation support, and who the person reports to.
Agriculture, hospitality, transport and town-based roles
Farm and station managers, machinery operators, truck drivers, hospitality and retail managers, chefs, and office and administration staff in Esperance, Kalgoorlie and the smaller towns.
- Who hires
- Agriculture employed 1,507 residents and accommodation and food services 1,529 in August 2021.2
- Demand
- Esperance's employment plan reports rising demand for workers in agriculture, hospitality, transport, tourism, retail, construction and health care.10 Drivers and storepersons averaged 112 job ads a month across the wider job-ads region.8
- Shortage
- General truck drivers, chefs and cooks are rated in shortage nationally; beef cattle, sheep, and mixed cattle and sheep farmers are not.11
- What to put in your brief
- The duties of the permanent role, including peak periods, the licence class and accommodation.
Hiring graduates in the Goldfields and Esperance
Curtin University teaches at its Kalgoorlie campus, home of the WA School of Mines,5 Central Regional TAFE has a Kalgoorlie campus12 and South Regional TAFE teaches in Esperance.13 Esperance's plan notes that young people often leave for study and are hard to attract back as graduates,10 so we look for graduates with a link to the region as well as those ready for their first move to the country.
How we help you hire in the Goldfields and Esperance
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Distances, rosters and relocation
Kalgoorlie is 595 km from Perth, Coolgardie 556 km, Leonora 831 km and Esperance 718 km.14 For site roles we confirm the roster, the point of hire, travel and camp arrangements with every candidate. For roles in Kalgoorlie-Boulder or Esperance, we talk through housing, childcare and the move before anyone accepts. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in the Goldfields or Esperance?
Tradespeople, engineers, health workers, office professionals and graduates can all register with Hire Australia. Tell us whether you want to live in Kalgoorlie, Esperance or another town, or work a roster, and the work you want. We'll talk with you about roles that fit.
Talk to us about your next Goldfields or Esperance hire
Tell us about the role, the site or town, the roster, housing and when you need someone to start.
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment.
A FEW PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Good to know.
Is it hard to hire staff in Kalgoorlie?
Yes, for most skilled roles. In the latest Kalgoorlie employer survey, 71% of employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty, though the sample was small.1 Mining competes with every other employer for the same people. Hire Australia searches Kalgoorlie, Perth and interstate, screens for the experience and roster fit your role needs, and asks candidates which tickets they hold.
Does Hire Australia have an office in Kalgoorlie or Esperance?
No. Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist based in Brisbane, and we recruit for employers across regional Australia, including Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Esperance, Coolgardie and Leonora. We look for people already in the region and for people elsewhere who are ready to move or work a roster. Call 1300 719 836 or send us the role details to start.
Can Hire Australia recruit for drive-in drive-out and fly-in fly-out Goldfields roles?
Yes. Hire Australia recruits for drive-in drive-out, fly-in fly-out and residential roles across the Goldfields. Tell us the roster, the point of hire and any accommodation. We discuss the roster, point of hire, travel and accommodation with candidates during screening, before you meet anyone.
What does it cost to use Hire Australia?
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment. You employ the person directly, and we agree the terms with you in writing before the search begins. Hire Australia charges the same way for a role in Kalgoorlie, Esperance or Leonora as anywhere else in regional Australia.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff?
No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, in permanent roles in the Goldfields and Esperance. We don’t supply labour hire or temps, and candidates never work on our payroll. We search for and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the ones who fit, and you make the offer and employ them. That keeps the working relationship between you and your new employee from day one.
Can I register with Hire Australia for Goldfields or Esperance work?
Yes. Register with Hire Australia and tell us the work you want, whether you prefer living in Kalgoorlie or Esperance or working a roster, and your tickets and licences. Tradespeople, engineers, health workers, office professionals and graduates are all welcome. We'll talk with you about suitable roles.
Sources (14)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: State and Regional Snapshot update, Western Australia. Released 22 September 2026. Data: Latest survey, released September 2026; 42 employers, unweighted, small sample. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile, Table G54 Industry of employment by age by sex, Local Government Areas. Data: Census night, 10 August 2021; employed residents by place of usual residence, summed over each region. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, 2025 spatial and regional data file: mining employment by region and local government area. Files dated June 2026. Data: 2024-25 financial year average; full-time equivalent at mine sites, by site location. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, SALM Smoothed LGA Datafiles (ASGS 2025) - June quarter 2026. Data: June quarter 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Curtin University, Curtin Kalgoorlie campus (WA School of Mines). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population, 2024-25 financial year (Population estimates and components by LGA, 2024 to 2025). Released 31 March 2026. Data: 30 June 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission: Local Government (the ten local government areas of the region). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index: Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO2 Occupations, GCCSA and SA4 Regions - September 2026. September data released 21 October 2026. Data: September 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Local Jobs Plan: Kalgoorlie, WA (July 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Local Jobs Plan: Esperance Employment Region, WA (March 2026). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List (6-digit ANZSCO and OSCA). Files dated October 2026. Data: 2026 ratings, ANZSCO 2022 sheet. National ratings; S = shortage, R = regional shortage. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Central Regional TAFE, Central Regional TAFE: Campuses. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- South Regional TAFE, South Regional TAFE: Campuses. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- WA Country Health Service, WA Country Health Service: Goldfields regional profile (distance from Perth table). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑