The shortage of teachers in Western Australia has prompted the education department to increase salaries in a hope of attracting teachers from other states and also qualified foreign teachers.

The Age newspaper reports that Western Australia is offering graduate annual salaries around eight per cent higher than other Australian states.  "We've got a problem and we've got to fix it." education minister Mark McGowan said.

Secondary teachers are predominantly in demand, in particular for maths, science, design and technology, home economics, languages other than English, literature and agriculture.

Teachers who are willing to go to smaller centres and more remote areas are being offered even more benefits, including a location allowance and paid location costs.