A major employer in SA, Nyrstar employs 56 trade apprentices at Port Pirie across the boiler making, electrical maintenance, and fitting and turning fields, with another 16 first-year apprentices due to start in 2024.

Nyrstar regional head of human resources in Australia Rick Briant said for more than 130 years there had been multiple generations of South Australians from the same family employed at Port Pirie.

"Tradespeople are of critical importance to our operations in both Port Pirie and Hobart and gaining a qualification through an apprenticeship is the perfect start," he said.

SA education, training and skills minister Blair Boyer said tradespeople were critical to the future of the state's economy.

"It is so important that large employers such as Nyrstar continue to attract and retain talented apprentices because it can't provide the metals important to everyday life around the world without its tradespeople," he said.

"Apprentices will get the opportunity not only to learn and develop but be part of producing critical minerals that the world needs right here in Port Pirie."

Boyer said all school leavers who enjoyed hands-on, manual work or and those who were considering learning a skill, should seek out an apprenticeship with Nyrstar.