GINDALBIE Metals, along with its joint venture partner AnSteel, plan to create scores of new jobs, in the MidWest over the coming year, according to the Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber president Merrill Dalgleish said the proposed Karara iron ore project, located 70 kilometres from Morawa, would require hundreds of local workers; a valuable shot in the arm for the Mid West economy.
Gindalbie said it intends to create 1000 jobs," she said.
"These will be in the construction of the site which, subject to EPA approval, will start June 2009 and these jobs will be permanent positions for the ongoing mining."
Last week senior Gindalbie management held a meeting with locals in Morawa to discuss the company's Purchase Local Policy - a commitment to give preferential treatment to local businesses and workers in the construction and service of Karara.
Gindalbie Metals community relations manager, Greg Kaeding, said using local workers and businesses was in the company's best interests.
Given the proximity of the camp to the project, we should be able to employ everyone in Morawa and Perenjori who expresses interest," he said.
Earlier this week the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the demand for labour in WA would remain strong throughout 2009, with the number of people out of work in the State expected to remian below four per cent.
However, CCI chief economist John Nicolau warned that job seekers may need to be more flexible when considering their prospects and improve their chances of gaining work by undergoing training and adjusting their salary expectations.