Goldfields businesses could come to the rescue of workers affected by BHP Billiton’s job cuts at its Nickel West operations.

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday fielded many calls from local mining and labour hire companies, particularly interested in operational staff.

Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines acting general manager David Nicholson said affected BHP workers were welcome to apply for jobs with the operator of Australia’s largest gold mine.

“Our employment opportunities are regularly advertised and we encourage any experienced person to apply if they are interested in a specific vacancy at KCGM,” he said.

On Wednesday BHP announced the cutback of 155 positions, about 60 per cent Perth-based, but 22 employees and five contractors from Nickel West Leinster, three employees and 28 contractors from Mt Keith and six employees and one contractor from the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter will be affected.

The company said it hopes to redeploy the majority of staff to its growing iron ore business, but would offer different options to affected staff.