The Hon. Paul Kirby, Minister for Business, Jobs and Training (NT), Media Release, 21 January 2023
A consortium of Territory businesses are heading to the Philippines and India this weekend to recruit much needed construction workers and other critical workers needed across the economy.
The consortium, led by Master Builders and also comprising the Minerals Council and the Chamber of Commerce, received a $200,000 Flexible Workforce Solutions Grant to deliver in-country expos.
The expos will promote the Territory as a preferred destination to live and work as well as facilitate connections between potential workers and Northern Territory businesses.
Master Builders Global Roadshow will help raise the profile of the Territory and expand and diversify our skill base.
The workforce attraction program is designed to connect skilled international construction workers with Northern Territory businesses who have received support under the Territory Labor Government’s Flexible Workforce Solutions Fund.
The Territory’s construction industry is a key sector experiencing critical skills shortages and desperately needs skilled workers.
It is important that the Territory Government facilitate projects that attract and retain a skilled workforce that will meet the needs of the Territory and help achieve a $40 billion economy by 2030.
The Flexible Workforce Solutions Fund is a key initiative under the Territory Government’s $12.8 million workforce booster package and applications for grants of up to $200,000 are available on a 25:75 co-contribution basis for projects and activities.
For further information and to apply at http://nt.gov.au/workforce-solutions
Quotes attributable to Minister for Business, Jobs and Training, Paul Kirby:
“For the Territory to achieve a $40 billion economy by 2030 we need a skilled and agile workforce.
“That’s why we are investing in projects that work with industry to help promote the Territory as the preferred destination to live and work and attract skilled workers to fill critical workforce shortages.
“Peak bodies like Master Builders, leading a strong contingent of Territorians to help sell the Territory to attract a potential workforce, are leading the way in filling gaps in some of our most important sectors.”
Quotes attributable to Master Builders NT CEO, Ben Carter:
“Minister Kirby is showing what can be done when government genuinely partners with business to find solutions that are needed to support growth in our economy.
“The Global Recruitment Expos have already generated a huge amount of interest in the markets we are targeting.
“The program is to support the crucial construction industry, the resources sector and SMEs throughout the Territory who are being hamstrung by the most severe labour shortage.”
