Indigenous Territorians are working successfully in a wide range of professional and wage jobs, and higher numbers are participating in training that links to employment each year. But there is still more to be done. In 2010, Indigenous labour force participation rates were 43.6% compared to 80% for non-Indigenous Territorians.5

The NT Government has supported a number of activities to increase Indigenous participation in the workforce, they include:

• The Indigenous Responsive Program, which funds training to develop the skills of Territorians living in remote and regional areas of the NT and increase Indigenous employment opportunities.
• The NT Government is also working with industry to stimulate Indigenous employment through workforce planning and development strategies. Examples include the pre-employment program with the Minerals Council Australia - NT, Indigenous workers in health and community services sectors, shires workforce planning and for the hospitality and early child care sectors.

While Indigenous engagement in the workforce is increasing, Indigenous workers have not yet achieved proportionally equivalent employment participation rates relative to the wider NT population. Research suggests the following initiatives may support increased engagement of Indigenous people in employment:

• establishing partnerships with specific industry sectors to develop workforce plans and commitments to jobs
• more hands-on business support to assist business navigate through available Indigenous employment services and to support business and workers through the early stages of employment
• in conjunction with employers, develop mobility and labour hire approaches to link Indigenous workers to jobs.

5 Labour Force Characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, Estimates from the Labour Force Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010​