Northern Territory construction industry seeks workers from India and the Philippines

The Territory has 2000 fewer construction workers than before Covid-19. The industry is looking overseas to boost numbers with a focus on India and the Philippines.

A new scheme backed by industry and Northern Territory Government wants to attract up to 600 international construction workers to the Northern Territory.

Master Builders NT, the Minerals Council and Chamber of Commerce have partnered with the Territory Government to grow the available construction workforce, which has 2000 fewer employees than pre-Covid levels.

There are about 10,300 construction workers currently employed in the Northern Territory.

The Territory Government has committed $200,000 to enable industry to sell the benefits of a construction job in the Territory at recruitment expos in the Philippines and India.

Combined with an additional $600,000 provided by industry, the money will be used to present the strongest possible case for the Territory as a fulfilling place to live and work.

A Darwin CBD construction site. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

Master Builders NT chief executive Ben Carter said the funding would assist the industry to establish a strong Territory presence at international jobs expos.

“We have to do in-country promotions, then we have to pay to run the expo then have temporary recruitment staff to vet candidates, take details and facilitate the interview process,” Mr Carter said.

“This is what we need to go and find workers overseas, find skilled workers, find people who are compatible with what we need here in our industry,” he said.

“It’s a very targeted, very strategic and very innovative scheme.”

Mr Carter said the funding was part of a broader industry recruitment drive called Born to Build.

It wants to attract 5000 new workers to the Territory by 2028.

“It’s about training people up now in the Territory for future workforce needs and it’s about meeting our immediate needs from recruiting overseas,” he said.

A crane on Darwin’s skyline as work progresses at the CDU City Campus. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“This is an integrated ecosystem that’s about working with the Government, working with industry and working together to really boost the Territory economy.”

Mr Carter said it was anticipated India would provide para-professionals including project managers and site managers while skilled tradespeople would be sourced from the Philippines.

“We know in Philippines and India are trained against United States building standards and the US way of building so it means we are able to upskill them and translate those skills quickly.

“They’re also acclimatised to Territory conditions.

“We’re not going to be able to get people from Victoria or country New South Wales so we need to look elsewhere and that’s why this grant from the Territory Government is just what is needed right now to support us in that effort.”

Jaytex Construction specialises in medium to large scale commercial construction projects.

Business, Jobs and Training Minister Paul Kirby, who earlier this week announced a similar scheme to recruit hospitality workers, said the additional workforce would drive economic growth.

“I think the Philippines and India are fantastic destinations for us to target,” he said.

“There’s already a great multicultural society here in town and we know if people can come they can settle their family, their kids can get into schools and it’s much for people to settle.

“We’re really confident that people will see the Territory as a destination for them and their families and to set-up their long-term future.”

Almost 200 business owners across the Territory have expressed interest in recruiting workers.

It could be up to six months before the first overseas construction workers arrive in the NT.

Jaytex construction manager Neil Daffen said the company could recruit up to 30 workers on its job sites.