THE West Australian government is planning a campaign to acquire more workers to beat skills shortages.

The Barnett government released a 20-page list of 348 priority occupations, naming everything from carpenters, plumbers and architects to pilots, accountants, nurses, chefs, locksmiths and auditors.

The Western Australia's unemployment rate fell to just 4 per cent.

"We've got an enormous amount of opportunity here for people," Mr Collier said. "I want to tell them all this is a great state to get a job."

The priority jobs list showed construction, automotive and engineering trades were among the worst affected, but the shortages were so widespread that people from a vast range of backgrounds were in demand.

Vets, midwives, optometrists, social workers, lift mechanics, butchers, bakers and prison officers were among those named.

WA Housing Industry Association executive director John Dastlik said the average age of workers in the residential construction industry was 45 to 50 years and serious and radical changes were needed to encourage more young people to enter trades.

Extracted from Perth Now