Surging production of gold and lithium has given WA its first increase in mining employment in five years, with the sector now providing the equivalent of almost 90,000 full-time jobs.

The WA mining industry had direct employment of about 89,800 full-time equivalent jobs in the 2018 financial year, a 5.8 per cent increase.

Lithium and gold mining each added about 2000 full-time positions of the total 5238 jobs the mining sector added.

Full-time equivalent employment in WA mining last rose in the 2013 financial year to a peak of more than 101,000 jobs.

Mining employed 112,000 people, with part-time and casual employment resulting in the lower number of about 89,800 full-time equivalent jobs.

Gold production rose 4.5 per cent to 212 tonnes worth $11.4 billion, according to the data released today by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

The value of lithium spodumene concentrate produced soared 168 per cent to $1.6 billion.

Iron ore remained the State’s most valuable mining product with the equivalent of about 42,000 full-time workers producing $61.9 billion worth of ore.