Darwin and Palmerston recruitment for professional, technical and trade roles
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield, Humpty Doo and across the Top End hire professional, technical and trade staff, from graduates to experienced people. Darwin is the Territory's capital; for us it is part of the regional work we do across the Northern Territory.
Darwin and Palmerston at a glance
- of recruiting Darwin employers had difficulty filling a role
- 56%
- Year to August 2026, against 44% nationally.1
- of the region's workers are in health care and social assistance
- 17%
- 15,100 of 90,500 employed people, four-quarter average to February 2026.2
- of employed Palmerston residents worked in public administration and safety
- 19.7%
- August 2021, by place of residence.3
- unemployment rate, City of Darwin
- 3.4%
- Modelled estimate, June quarter 2026. Palmerston was 4.5%.4
Who employs the most people in Darwin?
Health care and government are the two largest employers in the Darwin region, followed by construction, education and retail.2 Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital are both in the region,5 and 1,449 Australian Public Service staff worked in the Darwin area at 30 June 2026.6 Defence has RAAF Base Darwin and Robertson Barracks here,7 and the Ichthys LNG plant at Bladin Point can produce up to 9.3 million tonnes of LNG a year.8
Employed people in the five largest industries, Darwin employment region, four-quarter average to February 2026.2
| Industry | Employed people |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 15,100 |
| Public administration and safety | 13,500 |
| Construction | 8,400 |
| Education and training | 8,200 |
| Retail trade | 7,400 |
Which jobs are most advertised in Darwin?
General-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists were the most advertised occupation group in Greater Darwin. Automotive and engineering trades came second, with medical practitioners and nurses and legal, social and welfare professionals close behind.9
Online job advertisements by occupation group, Greater Darwin, three-month average to September 2026 (1,869 a month across all occupations).9
| Occupation group | Job ads a month |
|---|---|
| General-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists | 127 |
| Automotive and engineering trades | 118 |
| Medical practitioners and nurses | 102 |
| Legal, social and welfare professionals | 101 |
| Sales assistants and salespersons | 95 |
| Drivers and storepersons | 90 |
| Health diagnostic and therapy professionals | 74 |
How hard is it to hire in Darwin?
Harder than in most of Australia. Of the 199 Darwin employers in a national employer survey in the year to August 2026, 56% were recruiting or had recruited in the past month, and 56% of those had difficulty filling a role, against 44% nationally.1
The most common reasons were a lack of suitable applicants, applicants without the technical skills, the location, and applicants without enough experience.1 Location is a reason employers give even in the capital, so we talk with candidates early about the climate, the cost of the move and how long they plan to stay.
Roles we recruit in Darwin and Palmerston
Open a role type for demand, shortage, pay and what to put in your brief. Shortage ratings are from the 2026 list (ANZSCO 2022 coding, to match the job-ad and earnings groups); we count an occupation as in shortage when it is rated short nationally or in regional areas.
Trades for construction, maintenance and energy
Electricians, diesel and heavy-vehicle mechanics, fitters, welders, plumbers and carpenters for builders, workshops, Defence and energy projects.
- Demand
- Greater Darwin averaged 118 online job ads a month for automotive and engineering trades, 47 for electrotechnology and telecommunications trades and 47 for construction trades, three-month average to September 2026.9
- Shortage
- Electrician (General), Diesel Motor Mechanic, Fitter (General), Welder (First Class), Plumber (General) and Carpenter are rated in shortage nationally on the 2026 list.10
- Pay (electricians)
- Award minimum: $1,223.11 a week with industry, tool and licence allowances, from 1 July 2026, for a licensed electrician (Electrical worker grade 5) employed by an electrical contracting business, which is what the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award covers; plant and project roles may sit under another award or agreement.11 Full-time electricians earned a national median of $2,191 a week in May 2025.12
- What to put in your brief
- The trade and licence, the site or workshop, any roster, the pay range and whether you help with relocation.
- How we help
- We ask candidates about the work, the roster, the Top End climate and their relocation plans before we introduce them.
Engineers and technical staff
Civil, electrical and mechanical engineers, drafters and technicians, from graduates to project leads, for consultancies, contractors and government projects.
- Demand
- Greater Darwin averaged 42 online job ads a month for engineers and 45 for engineering, ICT and science technicians.9
- Shortage
- Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer and Civil Engineering Draftsperson are rated in shortage nationally on the 2026 list.10
- Pay
- Award minimum: $34.57 an hour for a graduate engineer with a four or five-year degree (Professional Employees Award, level 1.1, from 1 July 2026), for professional engineering duties that the award covers.13 Civil engineering professionals earned a national median of $59 an hour in May 2025.14
- What to put in your brief
- The discipline, the project type, site time, and who will supervise a graduate.
Health, aged care and disability support
Registered and enrolled nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, health administration and management staff, and support workers such as assistants in nursing and aged-care and disability support workers.
- Size
- Health care and social assistance employs 15,100 people in the Darwin region, and 54% of the Territory's health care workforce is in Greater Darwin.2
- Demand
- Monthly online job ads in Greater Darwin averaged 102 for medical practitioners and nurses, 74 for health diagnostic and therapy professionals and 64 for carers and aides.9
- Shortage
- On the 2026 list, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Midwife, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Aged or Disabled Carer are rated in shortage nationally, and Enrolled Nurse in regional areas.10
- What to put in your brief
- Registration, the setting, the shifts and the support for someone moving to the Territory.
Office, business and government-facing roles
Administrators, receptionists, finance staff, HR and business professionals for businesses, not-for-profits and contractors.
- Demand
- Greater Darwin averaged 127 online job ads a month for general-inquiry clerks, call-centre workers and receptionists, 51 for office managers, administrators and secretaries and 51 for business, finance and human resource professionals.9
- Competition
- Public administration and safety employs 13,500 people in the Darwin region, and it was the largest industry for employed residents of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield in August 2021.2,3
- What to put in your brief
- The systems, the experience level, the hours and the flexibility you can offer against government employers.
- How we help
- We look for people with relevant experience in the Top End and talk with them about the role, the pay and their plans.
Hiring graduates in Darwin
Charles Darwin University, which delivers both university and TAFE courses, has campuses at Casuarina, in Darwin City and in Palmerston,15 so many graduates finish their study locally. Tell us who will guide a graduate in the first year and we talk that through with them.
How we help you hire in Darwin and Palmerston
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Commuting, rosters and relocation
Darwin (90,035 people), Palmerston (43,193) and Litchfield (24,849) make up most of Greater Darwin's 159,284 residents.16 Unemployment was 3.2% in Litchfield in the June quarter 2026.4 Katherine is about 317 km south,17 so some Darwin-based roles involve regular travel down the Stuart Highway, and others are fly-in fly-out to remote sites.
Tell us where the working day starts, the roster and any travel, and whether you help with flights, housing or relocation costs. We raise it with every candidate who would be moving to the Top End.
If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in Darwin or Palmerston?
Experienced tradespeople, engineers, health and office professionals, graduates and people moving to the Top End can register with Hire Australia. Tell us the work you want and when you could start, and we'll talk with you about suitable roles.
Talk to us about your next Darwin hire
Tell us about the role, the site and when you need someone 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.
What roles does Hire Australia recruit in Darwin?
Hire Australia recruits professional, technical and trade staff for Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield employers, from graduates to experienced people. That includes electricians, mechanics and other trades, engineers and technicians, nurses, allied health and support workers, and office, finance and business staff. Tell us the experience the role needs and we search for it.
Why is it hard to recruit staff in Darwin?
In the year to August 2026, 56% of recruiting Darwin employers had difficulty filling a role, against 44% nationally. A lack of suitable applicants, technical skills and the location were the main reasons.1 Hire Australia searches locally and interstate, and talks through the move with candidates from the start.
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. Briefing Hire Australia on a role in Darwin, Palmerston or Litchfield costs nothing, and there is no upfront payment for the search.
Does Hire Australia have a Darwin office?
No. Hire Australia is based in Brisbane and recruits for employers across regional Australia, including Darwin and the Top End. We work by phone and video with you and with candidates, and our search starts with people who live, study or work in the Darwin region, along with people planning a move there.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or FIFO contractors in Darwin?
No. Hire Australia doesn’t supply labour hire, temps or contractors in Darwin. We recruit people into permanent roles you employ directly, including fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out roles based from Darwin. Tell us the roster, travel and accommodation, and we discuss them with candidates before introducing anyone. You make the offer and employ them from day one.
Can I register with Hire Australia if I'm moving to Darwin?
Yes. Register with Hire Australia and tell us your skills, the work you want, when you could start and whether you are already in the Territory. We'll talk with you about suitable Darwin and Palmerston roles and the practical side of the move.
Sources (17)
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: snapshot update, Northern Territory combined. Released 22 September 2026. Data: Year to August 2026; Northern Territory 241 employers, weighted; Darwin 199, unweighted; small samples, interpret with caution. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Industry profiles, Northern Territory and its employment regions. Published 15 April 2026. Data: Four-quarter average to February 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021, G54 Industry of employment by age by sex, Local Government Areas. Data: Census night, 10 August 2021. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed LGA data files (ASGS 2025), June quarter 2026. Released 9 October 2026. Data: June quarter 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- healthdirect (Australian Government), Hospitals in Palmerston, NT 0830. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Public Service Commission, APS Employment Data 30 June 2026, release tables. Released 30 September 2026. Data: 30 June 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Defence, United States Force Posture Initiatives: infrastructure developments. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- INPEX, Ichthys LNG. Data: Page read 1 November 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index, ANZSCO 2-digit occupations by GCCSA and SA4 regions, September 2026. Released October 2026. Data: September 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 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Commission, Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award 2020 [MA000025]. 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: Electricians. Data: May 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Fair Work Commission, Professional Employees Award 2020 [MA000065]. 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: Civil Engineering Professionals. Data: May 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Charles Darwin University, Locations: campuses and centres. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population, 2024-25: population estimates and components by LGA. Released 31 March 2026. Data: 30 June 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Tourism NT, Driving Alice Springs to Darwin. Data: Undated page, read 1 November 2026. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑