While the money is nice, simple pleasures like a comfortable bed and good food are what West Aussies are really chasing in the ideal fly-in, fly-out lifestyle.

As more mine sites across WA deal with a talent shortage, many employers believe that money can solve the issue of attracting ideal candidates.

However, a survey by MPI Recruitment with more than 420 FIFO workers has revealed that pay plays a marginal role in the grand scheme of luring miners.

Mark Pearce, MPI’s marketing and workforce insights manager, said that employers will often overlook the simple things.

“What surprised us most about this research wasn’t what FIFO workers wanted, but how consistent their responses were,” he said.

“More than 90 per cent of workers selected one of four simple things. I believe it reinforces the idea that while most employers still think high salaries attract people to mining jobs, it’s the everyday experience that shapes how people feel about their employer and whether they stay.”

Despite generous pay packages, FIFO workers have revealed that they are open to changing jobs — with leadership, culture, team and job satisfaction pointed to as the leading drivers according to MPI.

The survey revealed that for blue-collar workers, the ability to use and develop their skills is the biggest factor in searching for a role, while white-collar workers will chase the chance for a job promotion.

Simple lifestyle benefits of good food, a gym, a private room and a comfortable bed can make a world of difference for workers after long and gruelling hours working on site.

While better pay ranked as one of the lowest deciding factors - with culture and leadership both placed with significantly higher value.

“These findings can benefit both sides. For FIFO workers, this research provides a simple checklist for assessing future opportunities and making informed career decisions,” Mr Pearce said.

“For employers, it’s a reminder that if they want to attract and keep the right people, they’d do well to understand what people care most about first.”