The Queensland government and the resources sector reached an agreement to seek out new workers from coastal areas with high unemployment and “plug them into the mining boom”

"This is about giving people choice and opportunity. We have significant numbers of Queenslanders, particularly in some regional areas, out of work and yet the mining industry is facing a skills shortage," she said.

"We know that as many as 38,000 construction and operation jobs will be created in the Queensland resources sector between now and 2014-2015.

"I want every Queenslander to have the opportunity to plug into the boom and we reached a milestone today that will help us to move forward on what is essentially a skills and employment mismatch.”

The resources sector has committed to identifying the jobs and skills required immediately and in the longer term and bringing those vacancies to the expos.

"We have also secured the support of five regional councils to help us tap into these new pools of resource workers,” Bligh said.

"This agreement will help ensure people in these regional areas have greater opportunity to benefit from this jobs boom."

Bligh said the government would host mining and gas jobs expos in Cairns, Wide Bay-Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Whitsunday and the Gold Coast in October this year with the support of local councils.

"Mining companies will be there on the day offering jobs in the booming Queensland resources sector," she said.

"TAFE Queensland will also be there offering training to people interested in mining industry jobs.

"And Skilling Solutions Queensland will be on hand to conduct skills assessments and provide career advice.

"The resources sector will benefit because mining companies will have access to a skilled local workforce."