Building a strong workforce for the Territory

The Northern Territory continues to show positive signs of economic resurgence and with major energy projects coming online it is critical we have a skilled and robust workforce inplace.

A whole-of-Territory workforce development strategy to tackle skills and labour shortages and strengthen our local workforce and to deliver growth.

The Northern Territory continues to show positive signs of economic resurgence and with

major energy projects coming online it is critical we have a skilled and robust workforce in

place.

For many years the Northern Territory has faced ongoing workforce challenges including remoteness, a small and transient population and skill shortages across all sectors.

To provide a platform for collective action to address these challenges a whole-of-Northern

Territory workforce strategy is being developed to strengthen the Territory’s workforce outcomes and deliver growth.

Led by the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations, the strategy will be developed in partnership with government, business, industry and the community.

The whole-of-Territory strategy will be developed in partnership with the government, business, industry and the community.

The consultation period is now open and provides an opportunity for Territorians to provide innovative and practical solutions into the development of the strategy.

Five key areas have

been identified, they include:

 a skills and training system with pathways into jobs

 reducing barriers to workforce participation

 activating the regional and remote workforce

 workforce attraction and retention

 shaping the Territory’s future workforce.

This is an opportunity to have your say and engage in genuine consultation and shape the

future of the Northern Territory’s workforce development.

You can provide input into the Workforce Development Strategy via haveyoursay.nt.gov.au or by attending a public consultation session in your region.

You can provide feedback via haveyoursay.nt.gov.au or by attending a public consultation

session which will be held in all major centres during November.

 Darwin: Thursday 12 November, 5.30pm, Hilton Darwin. 

 Katherine: Wednesday 13 November, 4:00pm, Knotts Crossing Resort.

 Palmerston: Tuesday 18 November, 5.30pm, Rydges Palmerston. 

 Alice Springs: Tuesday 25 November, 5.30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton. 

 Tennant Creek: Wednesday 26 November, 5.30pm, Barkly Business Hub. 

 Nhulunbuy: Tuesday 2 December, 5.30pm, Walkabout Lodge. 

Have Your Say is now open and closes on 30 January 2026.