The mines I've been dealng with in Central Qld have more than 20 years + of work in them. They are screaming for reliable, hard working people. The support industries are screaming for reliable, hard working people.
Herein lies the problem. They can get people, but they are either as thick as two short planks, or don't want to work. I have an associate who's offered me 6 figures to work for a company doing shut down and breakdown maintenance, who's pleaded with me to go to Emerald because he can't get quality workers.
The thing people don't realise is that it's dirty, hard, heavy work. If you aren't willing to put in the work, occasionally put yourself out (the companies REALLY scream when their product isn't coming out of the ground....) you'll last about ten minutes. The money's there, but you have to work for it. A lot of companies don't like employing straight out of school unless it's a traineeship/ apprenticeship. Mainly due to work ethic. Or lack thereof.
Oh, it's also HIDEOUSLY expensive to live in a mining town.