Newcastle and Hunter recruitment: trade, technical and professional staff
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter Valley hire tradespeople, engineers, health professionals and office staff, from graduates to experienced people, starting with people who already live in the Hunter or want to move there.
The Hunter at a glance
- of the Hunter's workers are in health care and social assistance
- 19%
- 68,300 of 355,600 employed people, four-quarter average to February 2026.1
- of recruiting Hunter employers had difficulty filling a role
- 40%
- Year to August 2026, against 44% across regional New South Wales.2
- mining jobs in seven Hunter council areas outside Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- 10,735
- 2021, Cessnock, Dungog, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens, Singleton and the Upper Hunter.3
- online job ads a month across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter Valley
- 4,854
- 2,803 in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 2,051 in the Hunter Valley, three-month average to September 2026.4
Who are the Hunter's biggest employers?
Health care is the Hunter's largest industry by a wide margin. Hunter New England Local Health District serves more than 970,000 residents across the Hunter, New England and the lower Mid North Coast.5 Retail, construction and education follow, and professional services such as engineering and accounting round out the top five.1
Outside the city, the economy looks different. Mining supported 10,735 jobs in 2021 and defence 2,429, built around RAAF Base Williamtown and Lone Pine Barracks at Singleton.3 The Port of Newcastle, the largest on the East Coast, can handle more than 200 million tonnes of cargo a year.6
Employed people in the five largest industries, Hunter employment region, four-quarter average to February 2026.1
| Industry | Employed people |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 68,300 |
| Retail trade | 38,000 |
| Construction | 33,500 |
| Education and training | 29,700 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 27,300 |
Which jobs are most advertised in Newcastle and the Hunter?
Nurses and doctors top the job ads in both halves of the region. Trades and engineering roles are close behind, and engineers alone averaged 73 ads a month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.4
Online job ads a month by occupation group, three-month average to September 2026, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley (excluding Newcastle) statistical areas.4
| Occupation group | Job ads a month, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie | Job ads a month, Hunter Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Medical practitioners and nurses | 239 | 236 |
| Carers and aides | 200 | 138 |
| General-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists | 175 | 126 |
| Sales assistants and salespersons | 163 | 113 |
| Automotive and engineering trades | 150 | 124 |
| Legal, social and welfare professionals | 136 | 73 |
| Electrotechnology and telecommunications trades | 63 | 51 |
| Engineers | 73 | 43 |
How hard is it to hire in the Hunter?
Of the 284 Hunter employers surveyed in the year to August 2026, 54% were recruiting or had recruited in the previous month. 40% of those had difficulty filling a role, a little below the 44% across regional New South Wales.2
The reasons Hunter employers gave most often were a lack of suitable applicants, applicants without the technical skills or experience, and the working conditions or hours.2 Unemployment is low in the mining towns, 3.1% in Singleton against 4.8% in Newcastle,7 so for Upper Hunter roles we often look to people in Maitland, Cessnock and Newcastle who would drive in.
Which roles do we recruit in Newcastle and the Hunter?
Open a role type for demand, shortage, pay, training and what to put in your brief. We count an occupation as in shortage when the 2026 ratings show it in shortage nationally or in regional areas.
Trades and maintenance
Qualified electricians, diesel fitters, mechanics, boilermakers, plumbers and carpenters for mines, plant, construction and maintenance teams.
- Demand
- Automotive and engineering trades averaged 150 ads a month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 124 in the Hunter Valley, three-month average to September 2026.4
- Shortage
- Electrician (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Carpenter and Plumber (General) are each rated in shortage nationally in 2026.8
- Pay (electricians)
- Where the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award covers the employer, a licensed electrician at Electrical worker grade 5 earns at least $1,223.11 a week from 1 July 2026, including allowances.9 Full-time electricians nationally earned a median $2,191 a week in May 2025.10
- Licence
- Any electrical wiring work in New South Wales needs an electrical licence or certificate.11
- Local training
- TAFE NSW has Hunter campuses at Tighes Hill, Hamilton, Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook, among others.12
Mining, energy and heavy industry
Maintenance planners, supervisors, electrical and mechanical tradespeople and technical staff for coal mines, power stations and their contractors.
- Size
- Mining supported 10,735 jobs across the seven council areas outside Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in 2021.3
- Change ahead
- About 20,000 Hunter employees work in carbon-intensive industries, and the region's coal-fired power stations are projected to close by 2033.13
- Rosters
- Tell us the shift pattern and start time. Many people at Upper Hunter sites drive in from towns further down the valley, so the commute matters as much as the pay.
- What to put in your brief
- The site, the roster and start time, the tickets and inductions needed, the equipment and whether you provide transport or a camp.
Engineers and technical staff
Graduate and experienced civil, mechanical, electrical and mining engineers, drafters and technicians for consultancies, contractors, councils and industry.
- Demand
- Engineers averaged 73 ads a month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 43 in the Hunter Valley, and engineering, ICT and science technicians 58 and 49.4
- Shortage
- Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer and Mechanical Engineer are each rated in shortage nationally in 2026.8
- Pay
- Where the Professional Employees Award covers the role, a graduate engineer with a four or five-year degree earns at least $34.57 an hour from 1 July 2026.14 Civil engineering professionals nationally earned a median $59 an hour in May 2025.15
- Registration
- In New South Wales, professional engineering work on class 2, 3 and 9c buildings must be done by a registered engineer or under one's direct supervision.16
- Local university
- The University of Newcastle's main campus is at Callaghan.17
Health, aged care and disability support
Registered and enrolled nurses, allied health professionals, health administration and management staff, and support workers such as assistants in nursing and aged-care and disability support workers.
- Size of the sector
- 68,300 people work in health care and social assistance in the Hunter, 19% of all workers. 57% worked full-time in the four-quarter average to February 2026; the workforce's median age was 41 in August 2021.1
- Demand
- Medical practitioners and nurses averaged 239 ads a month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 236 in the Hunter Valley; carers and aides 200 and 138.4
- Shortage
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Physiotherapist and Aged or Disabled Carer are each rated in shortage nationally in 2026, and Enrolled Nurse is rated in shortage in regional areas only.8
- What to put in your brief
- The registration the role needs, the ward or service, the shift pattern and who will supervise.
Business, finance and administration
Accountants, payroll and finance officers, office managers and administration staff for professional firms, contractors and services.
- Demand
- Business, finance and human resource professionals averaged 78 ads a month in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, numerical clerks 43 and general-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists 175.4
- Location
- Tell us whether the role is in an office, on a site or split between the two, and how often the person travels.
- What to put in your brief
- The systems you use, the experience level, the hours and who the person reports to.
- How we help
- We check candidates' software, their experience with similar businesses and how far they can travel.
Hiring graduates in Newcastle and the Hunter
Graduates in the Hunter come from the University of Newcastle at Callaghan17 and from TAFE NSW locations stretching from Newcastle and Belmont to Scone.12 A graduate who studied locally already knows the region. Tell us who will mentor them, and we'll put that support at the centre of our conversations with them.
How we help you hire in Newcastle and the Hunter
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Rosters, travel and moving to the Hunter
The Hunter is a big region. Muswellbrook is a three-hour drive from Sydney and just under two hours from Newcastle,18 so a role in the Upper Hunter draws on a different pool from one in Newcastle. Give us the start location, the roster and any drive-in drive-out (DIDO) or fly-in fly-out (FIFO) arrangement, and we screen for people who can work that pattern.
For health, aged care, disability, education, early childhood and council roles in Dungog, MidCoast, Muswellbrook, Singleton or the Upper Hunter, the NSW Government's Welcome Experience offers free relocation support to the new worker and their family.19 Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland aren't covered. If you offer housing help or a relocation allowance, tell us early. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in Newcastle or the Hunter?
Tradespeople, engineers, health workers, office professionals and new University of Newcastle and TAFE graduates can register with Hire Australia. Tell us your trade or field, your tickets and how far you'll travel, and we'll call when a Hunter role fits.
Talk to us about your next Hunter hire
Tell us the role, the site or office, the roster, any tickets or licences and when you need the person to start.
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment.
A FEW PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
Good to know.
Does Hire Australia have an office in Newcastle?
No. Hire Australia is based in Brisbane and recruits for employers across regional Australia, including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Port Stephens. We search first among people who live, study or train in the Hunter, then among people planning a move there. You choose who to interview and who to hire.
Is it hard to recruit staff in the Hunter?
It can be. In the year to August 2026, 40% of Hunter employers who were recruiting had difficulty filling a role, against 44% across regional New South Wales. The most common reasons were too few suitable applicants and gaps in technical skills or experience.2 Hire Australia focuses on people who have the skills and can work your roster.
Can Hire Australia recruit for Upper Hunter mine sites and shift rosters?
Yes. Hire Australia recruits permanent tradespeople, supervisors, engineers and technical staff for mines, power stations and contractors across the Hunter. Tell us the site, the roster and any transport or camp, and we screen for people who already work similar shifts or live within a reasonable drive of Singleton or Muswellbrook.
What does it cost to use Hire Australia?
Employers pay nothing until the successful candidate has started and stayed two months. Candidates never pay for recruitment. You employ the person directly, and we agree the terms with you in writing before the search begins. Hire Australia charges Hunter employers on the same terms, whether the role is in Newcastle or at an Upper Hunter site.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or contractors in the Hunter?
No. Hire Australia fills permanent roles that you employ directly. We don’t supply labour hire, contractors or shutdown crews to Hunter employers, and candidates never work on our payroll. We find and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the best matches, and you make the offer and employ them from their first day.
Can I register with Hire Australia if I want to work in the Hunter?
Yes. Register with Hire Australia and tell us your trade, degree or experience, the tickets you hold and whether you could work a shift roster. Whether you live in Newcastle already, are finishing at the University of Newcastle or are planning a move, we'll talk with you about Hunter roles that fit.
Sources (19)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Region Industry profile: Hunter Employment Region. Published 15 April 2026. Data: February 2026, four-quarter average; median age: Census 2021. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: State and Regional Snapshot update, New South Wales combined. Released 22 September 2026. Data: Year to August 2026, 284 responding employers, unweighted; small regional sample, interpret with caution. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government (Department of Regional NSW), Hunter Regional Economic Development Strategy - 2023 Update. Data: 2021 (employment); REDS published February 2023. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index: Internet Vacancies, ANZSCO2 Occupations, GCCSA and SA4 Regions - September 2026. September data released 21 October 2026. Data: September 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government (Hunter New England Local Health District), About Hunter New England Local Health District. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Port of Newcastle, About the Port. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, SALM Smoothed LGA Datafiles (ASGS 2025) - June quarter 2026. Data: June quarter 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, 2026 Occupation Shortage List (6-digit ANZSCO and OSCA). Files dated October 2026. Data: 2026 ratings, ANZSCO 2022 sheet. National ratings; S = shortage, R = regional shortage. Accessed 29 October 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Pay Guide - Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award [MA000025]. Published 7 August 2026. Data: From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation profile, ANZSCO 3411 Electricians. Data: May 2025, ABS Employee Earnings and Hours (customised report), national median for full-time employees. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading), Electrical licences and certificates. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- TAFE NSW, TAFE NSW locations. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Net Zero Economy Authority (Australian Government), Regional Profiles: Hunter. Data: As stated in the September 2025 profile. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Pay Guide - Professional Employees Award [MA000065]. Published 24 June 2026. Data: From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation profile, ANZSCO 2332 Civil Engineering Professionals. Data: May 2025, ABS Employee Earnings and Hours (customised report), national median. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government (Building Commission NSW), Professional engineer obligations when working on regulated buildings. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, National Register: University of Newcastle. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Destination NSW (Visit NSW), Muswellbrook. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- NSW Government, The Welcome Experience. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑