The Northern Territory’s residential building industry continues to face ongoing workforce shortages, making skilled migration an important part of the solution. In February, HIA joined a Northern Territory industry delegation to the United Kingdom and Ireland as part of the NT Government’s Global Worker Attraction Program. This initiative is designed to connect skilled workers with Territory employers and showcase the NT as a place to build a career and lifestyle.

HIA’s NT Regional Executive Director, Luis Espinoza, represented our industry alongside delegates from the NT Chamber of Commerce, automotive, health, hospitality, tourism, ICT and digital services sectors.

The delegation travelled to Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Liverpool and Leeds, hosting information sessions aimed at attracting skilled workers. The events provided prospective migrants with information about employment opportunities, visa pathways, housing and life in the Territory.

‘The purpose of the trip was simple – to tell the Territory story and connect directly with people who are genuinely interested in relocating,’ says Luis. ‘There’s strong demand for skilled workers in the NT, and we wanted to make sure people understood the opportunities available in construction and the broader economy.’

The campaign promoted many of the advantages that make the Northern Territory unique, including strong employment prospects, shorter commuting times, year-round warm weather and a lifestyle that offers greater work-life balance than many larger cities.

Research continues to show that the UK and Ireland are important talent markets for Australia, with many workers already familiar with Australian culture and keen to explore opportunities overseas. The information sessions reflected that interest, attracting hundreds of attendees across all locations.

From Darwin to Belfast

For Luis and the delegation, the journey began with a long trip from Darwin to Belfast.

‘After travelling for around 16 hours, stepping out into Belfast’s cold and windy weather was quite a shock after leaving the Territory,’ he says. ‘But it was exciting to finally meet people face-to-face and start talking about the opportunities available back home.’

Before the first event, delegates explored some of Belfast’s historic attractions, including the Titanic Experience, which highlights the city’s role in building the famous ship.

The Belfast session attracted a diverse audience interested in learning more about employment opportunities and migration pathways to Australia.

Strong interest across Ireland

The delegation then travelled to Cork, a historic city with strong cultural ties and a growing population of skilled workers seeking international opportunities.

‘There was a lot of interest from people looking for a lifestyle change,’ Luis says. ‘Many were attracted by the idea of warmer weather, career growth and the chance to enjoy a different pace of life.’

The momentum continued in Dublin, where large crowds attended the information session and engaged directly with industry representatives.

‘People had done their research and came prepared with questions,’ says Luis. ‘Many wanted practical information about housing, jobs and what daily life is really like in the Territory.’

Liverpool delivers the biggest crowd

One of the standout locations was Liverpool, which attracted the largest attendance of the tour.

‘There was a fantastic turn-out and strong engagement from people across a wide range of trades and professions,’ Luis says. ‘For HIA, it was encouraging to see genuine interest from construction workers and tradespeople who could potentially help address workforce shortages in the Territory.’

The visit also provided an opportunity to experience some of the city’s famous cultural landmarks, including a Beatles tour through Penny Lane and other iconic locations associated with the band’s history.

For Luis, another memorable moment was attending a football match at Old Trafford. ‘Watching Manchester United defeat Brentford at Old Trafford was definitely a personal highlight of the trip,’ he says.

Common questions and real opportunities

The final stop in Leeds continued the strong attendance seen throughout the program. Across all events, attendees consistently raised similar questions about visa pathways, housing availability, cost of living, employment opportunities and relocation timeframes.

By the conclusion of the tour, close to 1000 people had attended information sessions across the UK and Ireland.

‘The level of interest exceeded expectations,’ Luis says. ‘People weren’t just curious; many were seriously considering making the move and wanted to understand what steps they needed to take.’

The sessions also provided an opportunity for attendees to register their interest and connect with employers through WorkerConnect, helping create a pipeline between prospective workers and Territory businesses.

Challenges remain

While the program demonstrated strong international interest in the Northern Territory, several challenges remain in converting that interest into successful migration outcomes. Visa complexity continues to be a significant barrier for skilled workers considering relocation. Employers also play a critical role by offering sponsorship opportunities and providing certainty of employment for prospective migrants.

Housing and infrastructure capacity must also keep pace with population growth to ensure new arrivals can settle successfully in the Territory.

From HIA’s perspective, the initiative highlighted both the opportunities and the need for greater preparation. ‘The program clearly demonstrated that there’s strong interest in the Northern Territory,’ Luis says. ‘For HIA and our members, that’s encouraging.

‘With more planning, preparation and ongoing investment in these types of initiatives, they could deliver real benefits for the building industry and the broader Territory economy.’

The message from the tour was clear: the opportunity exists. International workers are interested in what the Northern Territory has to offer, and the residential building industry stands to benefit from attracting skilled people who are ready to construct a future in the Territory.