'FIFO work my only option'

Hedland resident Matt Goddard says he cannot understand why he needs to move to Perth to get a job in his home town.

The 54-year-old recently lost his casual position as a road train driver because of cost cuts and said he could now only find roles for fly-in, fly-out workers.

He said despite decades of experience and tickets to drive most equipment, he was being overlooked and now faced the prospect of long weeks away from his wife.

"I just applied for a job for Woodie Woodie (manganese mine) … I know that site … (and) I'm overqualified for that role," he said.

"But they specify (it is) fly-in, fly-out (from) Perth only."

Mr Goddard said the lack of local jobs was compounded by the tight market.

In the wake of plummeting iron ore prices, miners BHP Billiton, Atlas and Fortescue Metals Group or their contractors have all cut workers in the past six months, while Rio Tinto and Woodside recently foreshadowed potential job losses as high as 800.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said vacancies had been dropping across the resources sector.

"Companies report to CME they're receiving large numbers of qualified and experienced applicants," he said.

He said resources employees had a choice where they lived and most chose FIFO jobs.

"While regional WA is a great place to live and work, the vibrancy and amenities available in Perth make living near the city an attractive choice for many in the resources sector," he said.

However, Pilbara Joblink's Vivienne Seers said more people than ever in her Karratha job guidance centre were complaining about the lack of local jobs.

Member for the Pilbara Brendon Grylls also claimed the issue was widespread.

During a recent parliamentary address, he cited a letter from a man in Karratha, who, like Mr Goddard, was qualified and had a home and family in the Pilbara but could not find local work.

"Workers are being pushed into FIFO roles," he said.

"The choice always seems to end up: … move to Perth, we don't have a local job."

Mr Grylls argued the industry was ignoring the fact residential workers could save employers between $75,000 and $100,000 a year in flight and accommodation costs.

Local contractor KBSS also backed claims by Mr Grylls there were plenty of skilled workers in the Pilbara.

KBSS co-founder Bernie Pfoeffer grew his Karratha-based company from five employees to 58 in two years while employing only workers who lived locally.

He said these workers had given his company the edge when bidding for contracts because people on-site had noticed his workers had more fun than their FIFO counterparts.

"We found some real talent in Karratha … and they all have a laugh, the whole company is best mates," he said.

For Mr Goddard, meanwhile, time is ticking.

He has had to break a 12-month rental lease he can no longer afford and move his young wife, child and parents-in-law into a mobile home, and said they may soon be forced to head south down the highway.

"I love my wife and my child, and I don't want to fly-in, fly-out, but if you've got no choice you do what you need to do," he said.