Kimberley recruitment: health, education, trade and professional staff
Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist. We help employers in Broome, Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek, Wyndham, Fitzroy Crossing and across the Kimberley hire professional, technical and trade staff, from graduates to experienced people.
The Kimberley at a glance
- of employed Kimberley residents work in health care and social assistance, the largest industry
- 17.9%
- 2,491 of 13,878 employed residents, August 2021.1
- work in education and training, the second-largest industry
- 14%
- 1,937 employed residents, August 2021.1
- of recruiting Broome employers had difficulty recruiting
- 69%
- Latest survey, released September 2026: 22 employers, a small sample. Recruiting means recruiting or recruited in the past month (64%).2
- unemployment in the Shire of Broome
- 5.0%
- June quarter 2026. Rates are much higher in the remote shires (see the table below).3
Who employs people in the Kimberley?
Health care, schools and government employ the largest shares of Kimberley residents, followed by hospitality, retail and construction.1 The four shires are home to 40,562 people,4 spread across about 424,500 square kilometres.5
Broome is the regional hub for health services, and tourism, pearling, cattle and aquaculture all provide jobs.6 In the East Kimberley, irrigated agriculture around the Ord River Irrigation Area is a regional priority.7 Mining is a smaller employer than in the Pilbara: 1,524 full-time-equivalent jobs were at Kimberley sites in 2024–25, down from 1,672.8
Share of employed residents by industry, Kimberley region (four shires), August 2021.1
| Industry | % of employed residents |
|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 17.9% |
| Education and training | 14% |
| Public administration and safety | 9.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 8% |
| Retail trade | 7.3% |
| Construction | 6.8% |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 5.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 5% |
Where are the Kimberley's towns and workforces?
Each shire is its own labour market. A role in Kununurra draws on a different pool from one in Broome, and unemployment ranges from moderate in Broome to very high in the remote shires. The region's employment plan centres on training and support that help more local people, especially First Nations people, into work.6
Residents at 30 June 2025, distance from Perth and modelled unemployment in the June quarter of 2026, by shire.3,4,5
| Shire (main town) | Residents | Distance from Perth | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broome | 19,193 | 2,239 km | 5.0% |
| Wyndham-East Kimberley (Kununurra) | 8,441 | 3,216 km | 9.3% |
| Derby-West Kimberley (Derby) | 8,683 | 2,510 km | 23.8% |
| Halls Creek | 4,245 | 2,855 km | 28.0% |
How hard is it to hire in the Kimberley?
Very hard for skilled roles. In the latest employer survey for Broome, released in September 2026, 69% of the employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty recruiting, against 55% across regional WA. The small sample (22 employers) means the figure is a guide, but the reasons are consistent: a lack of suitable applicants, the remote location, applicants lacking technical skills, and working conditions or hours.2
The region's employment plan adds seasonal swings in labour demand and a historical reliance on international workers, and limited access to childcare, transport and affordable housing.6 We raise housing, the season and the length of commitment in the first conversation, with you and with every candidate.
Which roles do we recruit in the Kimberley?
Open a role type for demand, shortage ratings and what to put in your brief. Shortage ratings are for 2026; we count an occupation as in shortage if it is rated in shortage nationally or in regional areas.
Health, aged care and community services
Registered nurses, midwives, general practitioners, allied health professionals, Aboriginal health workers, and health administrators and managers, plus assistants in nursing and aged-care, disability and community support workers.
- Who hires
- Health care and social assistance employed 2,491 Kimberley residents in August 2021, the largest industry.1 Broome is the regional hub for health services.6
- Demand
- The region's employment plan reports consistent demand for health professionals in Broome, with strong training pathways into the sector.6
- Shortage
- Aged care registered nurses, midwives, general practitioners and physiotherapists are rated in shortage nationally,9 as are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and speech pathologists.9
- Local training
- The University of Notre Dame teaches its Bachelor of Nursing at its Broome campus.10
- What to put in your brief
- The registration, the setting and community, the shift or on-call pattern, and the housing, travel and other support available for a permanent employee.
Education, early childhood and government services
Early childhood and secondary teachers, childcare workers, and administration, program and project staff for schools, councils, government agencies and Aboriginal organisations.
- Who hires
- Education and training employed 1,937 Kimberley residents in August 2021, the second-largest industry.1
- Government
- Public administration and safety employed a further 1,310 residents, 9.4% of the workforce.1
- Shortage
- Early childhood teachers, secondary school teachers and childcare workers are rated in shortage nationally.9
- Local context
- The region's employment plan makes First Nations employment its first priority, including culturally safe workplaces that support career progression.6
- What to put in your brief
- The qualification or registration, the community, any cultural or language requirements, housing, and who the person reports to.
Trades, construction and maintenance
Electricians, mechanical fitters, motor mechanics, welders and fabricators, plant operators and site supervisors for builders, contractors, councils and mine sites.
- Who hires
- Construction employed 947 residents in August 2021,1 and construction firms make up the largest share of Broome's businesses.6
- Demand
- Development and infrastructure projects in and around Broome create demand for construction workers and skilled tradespeople.6
- Shortage
- General electricians, general fitters, diesel motor mechanics, metal fabricators and earthmoving plant operators are rated in shortage nationally.9
- Local training
- North Regional TAFE has Kimberley campuses in Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Kununurra and Wyndham.11
- What to put in your brief
- The trade and licences, the town or sites, the season and hours, any vehicle, and housing or travel support.
Tourism, hospitality, agriculture and pearling
Hospitality and tourism managers, chefs, tour guides, station and farm managers, and supervisors for pearling, aquaculture and horticulture.
- Who hires
- Accommodation and food services employed 1,117 residents and agriculture, forestry and fishing 692 in August 2021.1
- Seasonality
- Tourism, pearling, cattle and aquaculture all employ people, and labour demand swings with the seasons.6
- Shortage
- Chefs and cooks are rated in shortage nationally,9 and so are tour guides; cafe and restaurant managers are not.9
- What to put in your brief
- The duties of the permanent role, including peak periods, accommodation, and the licences or certificates needed.
Hiring graduates and local people in the Kimberley
The University of Notre Dame's Broome campus trains nurses,10 and North Regional TAFE teaches across six Kimberley towns.11 For graduate professionals, from engineers and accountants to teachers and allied health workers, we search across Australia for people who want to start their career in the Kimberley, and we talk with them honestly about the distance, the climate and the community before they meet you.
How we help you hire in the Kimberley
You make the hiring decision and employ the person directly. We handle the search and the organising in between.
Distance, housing and relocation in the Kimberley
The Kimberley is the state's most northern region. Broome is 2,239 km from Perth and Kununurra 3,216 km, and the region covers about 424,500 square kilometres.5 Many professional roles here need someone to live in town, so relocation is part of most searches.
We confirm housing, relocation support, flights home and the seasonal pattern of the role before a candidate meets you, and we look first for people with northern or remote experience. If the right person needs a visa or sponsorship, our sister business Australian Immigration Agency can advise.
Looking for work in the Kimberley?
Health workers, teachers, tradespeople, office professionals and graduates can all register with Hire Australia. Tell us which towns interest you, how long you would like to stay and the work you want. We'll talk with you about roles that fit.
Talk to us about your next Kimberley hire
Tell us about the role, the town or community, housing, the season 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.
Is it hard to hire staff in the Kimberley?
Yes, for most skilled roles. In the latest Broome employer survey, 69% of employers who were recruiting or had recruited in the past month had difficulty, though the sample was small.2 Distance, housing and the season all narrow the field. Hire Australia searches the Kimberley and the rest of Australia, and talks through relocation and housing with every candidate before you meet them.
Does Hire Australia have an office in Broome or Kununurra?
No. Hire Australia is a regional recruitment specialist based in Brisbane, and we recruit for employers across regional Australia, including Broome, Kununurra, Derby and Halls Creek. We look for people already in the Kimberley and for people elsewhere who are ready to move. Call 1300 719 836 or send us the role details to start.
Can Hire Australia help us hire local and First Nations people?
Yes. Hire Australia searches locally first and can advertise and screen in ways that suit local candidates, including First Nations people. The region's employment plan makes First Nations employment its first priority.6 Tell us about the support, training and mentoring you can offer, because it shapes who can take the role.
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 the same way for a role in Broome, Kununurra or Halls Creek as anywhere else in regional Australia.
Does Hire Australia supply labour hire or temporary staff?
No. Hire Australia recruits people you employ directly, in permanent roles in the Kimberley. We don’t supply labour hire or temps, and candidates never work on our payroll. We search for and screen people for your vacancy, introduce the ones who fit, and you make the offer and employ them. That keeps the working relationship between you and your new employee from day one.
Can I register with Hire Australia for Kimberley work?
Yes. Register with Hire Australia and tell us the work you want, the towns that interest you and how long you would like to stay. Health workers, teachers, tradespeople, office professionals and graduates are all welcome. We'll talk with you about suitable roles and what living there involves.
Sources (11)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 Census General Community Profile, Table G54 Industry of employment by age by sex, Local Government Areas. Data: Census night, 10 August 2021; employed residents by place of usual residence, summed over each region. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Jobs and Skills Australia, Recruitment trends and employers' needs: State and Regional Snapshot update, Western Australia. Released 22 September 2026. Data: Latest survey, released September 2026; 22 employers, unweighted, small sample. 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 ↑
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Regional population, 2024-25 financial year (Population estimates and components by LGA, 2024 to 2025). Released 31 March 2026. Data: 30 June 2025. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- WA Country Health Service, WA Country Health Service: Kimberley regional profile (distance from Perth table). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Local Jobs Plan: Broome Employment Region, WA (June 2024, latest published). Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Infrastructure WA, State Infrastructure Strategy: WA’s regions, Kimberley region. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, 2025 spatial and regional data file: mining employment by region and local government area. Files dated June 2026. Data: 2024-25 financial year average; full-time equivalent at mine sites, by site location. 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 ↑
- The University of Notre Dame Australia, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Broome Campus. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑
- North Regional TAFE, North Regional TAFE: Campuses. Accessed 1 November 2026. Back to text ↑