A new discussion paper on skills shortages in Australia has been released this week. The paper had been commissioned by the federal government to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce.

The aim of the paper is to find information on specific skills that resources companies need, and to find ways of meeting these needs over the next five years and beyond.

There are about 80 major new projects scheduled to start in Australia by 2015. “These projects will lead to an increase of around $92 billion in real gross domestic product and create direct and indirect jobs across Australia,” commented Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia Gary Gray.

The projects will also be responsible for the creation of thousands of new jobs in the country.