Construction


For this industry, analysis is provided on the Northern Territory’s (NT) construction activity for residential and non-residential buildings, engineering construction activity, building approvals, as well as construction work yet to be done, detailing both private and public sector estimates.

Economic contribution | Contribution to employment | Engineering constructionNon‑residential construction | Residential construction | Explanatory notes

­Over the past seven years, the NT construction industry has been heavily influenced by works for the Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, as well as other resource-related developments. During this period of strong economic expansion, the NT also realised a surge in residential construction activity, which peaked at historically high levels in 2013-14. Following the completion of the Ichthys LNG project, construction activity across all components has declined significantly.

Economic contribution

Contribution to employment

Engineering construction

Engineering construction includes mining, oil and gas, and other heavy industry and utility‑related developments, as well as infrastructure including roads, highways, railways and bridges.

Work done

In the year to September 2023:

Work commenced

Due to ABS data confidentiality protocols the value of private and total engineering construction work commenced in the Territory was not reported for the September quarter 2021. This likely reflects commencement of the construction activity for the Barossa project. As a result, it is not possible to calculate a range of metrics for these series.

In the year to September 2023:

For the latest data and analysis on engineering construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Engineering construction activity economic brief.

Non‑residential construction

Non‑residential building includes hotels and other non‑residential accommodation facilities, shopping centres, factories, offices, warehouses, schools, medical centres, correctional facilities and other similar buildings.

Work done

In the year to September 2023:

For the latest data and analysis on non-residential construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building activity economic brief.

Building approvals

Building approvals can be used as a leading indicator to determine the trend of construction-related activity, which measures the number and value of building work approved for non-residential buildings.

In the year to January 2024:

For the latest data and analysis on non-residential building approvals in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building approvals economic brief.

Residential construction

Work done

In the year to September 2023:

For the latest data and analysis on residential construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building activity economic brief.

Building approvals

Building approvals can be used as a leading indicator to determine the trend of construction-related activity, which measures the number and value of building work approved for residential buildings.

In the year to January 2024:

For the latest data and analysis on residential building approvals in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building approvals economic brief.

Explanatory notes