Once Australia's second-biggest provider of new jobs, the mining industry has shrunk to become barely significant as an employer.
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Employment data released on Thursday show the mining industry put on just 4200 more workers in the year to May.
Two years earlier, in the year to May 2012, it put on 61,000. The turndown is reflected in net interstate migration figures also released on Wednesday.
During 2013 Western Australia received just 4800 new arrivals from the rest of Australia. In 2012 it received 10,800.
The WA population grew by 2.9 per cent in 2013. A year earlier in 2012 it grew 3.7 per cent.
Victoria remains Australia's second-fastest-growing state, boosting its population by 108,000 people (1.9 per cent) in 2013. NSW gained 135,200 people, taking its population growth rate to 1.5 per cent, the highest in five years.
Sydney gained 81,000 residents, Melbourne 95,500.
The mining industry lost 6600 workers in the three months to May. In contrast retail gained 16,600, tourism 26,100 and health and aged care 35,200.
