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 construction | Non‑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
- The NT’s construction industry declined by 2.4% in 2024-25 to $2.1 billion (Chart 1).
- The construction sector in the NT accounts for 6.2% of the total gross state product (GSP) in 2024-25, down from 6.3% in the previous year. This represents the second lowest share of GSP across all jurisdictions (Chart 2).
- In comparison, the value of the national construction industry increased by 0.1% in 2024‑25, accounting for 7.2% of national gross domestic product (GDP) in the same year.
Contribution to employment
- In 2024-25, employment in the construction industry rose by 5.9% to 11,803 persons. The industry comprised 8.2% of the total resident workforce (Chart 3) and was the fourth largest employing industry in the NT.
- Nationally, the construction industry made up 9.2% of total national employment, accounting for 1,340,595 persons over the same period
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 December quarter 2025:
- the trend value of engineering construction work done declined by 6.1% to $531 million (below the 5‑year December quarter average of $595 million) and declined by 21.8% in the year-ended December 2025, in chain volume terms (Chart 4).
- in original current prices, private sector engineering construction work done declined by 22.8% to $437 million in the year-ended December 2025, and public sector work done declined by 20.2% to $181 million over the same period.
- the main driver for the decline in private sector work done was heavy industries and bridges, railways and harbours works and the decline in public sector work done was primarily due to roads and highways work and bridges, railways and harbours.
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 original current price terms:
- engineering work commenced increased by 20.7% to $419 million in the year-ended December quarter 2025 (above the 5-year December quarter average of $368 million).
- private sector work commenced increased by 14.3% to $292 million in the year-ended December quarter 2025 (above the 5‑year December quarter average of $255 million), mainly due to heavy industries.
- public sector work commenced increased by 38.2% to $127 million in the year-ended December quarter 2025 (above the 5‑year December quarter average of $113 million), mainly due to roads, highways & subdivisions work.
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 original chain volume terms:
- the value of non‑residential building construction work done increased by 15.5% to $280 million in the year-ended December quarter 2025 (Chart 5).
- In the year-ended terms, private sector work increased by 17.6% to $70 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $71.3 million).
- In the year-ended terms, public sector work increased by 14.8% to $209 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $177 million).
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.
Non-residential 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 both residential and non-residential buildings.
In original current price terms:
- the value of total non-residential building approvals declined by 21.8% to $30.9 million in the year-ended March 2026.
- private sector approvals increased by 43% to $26.8 million and public sector approvals declined by 80.1% to $4.1 million in the year-ended March 2026.
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 original chain volume terms:
- the value of residential construction work done in the NT increased by 11.1% to $112 million in the year-ended December quarter 2025 (above the 5‑year December quarter average of $99.3 million).
- this was driven by a 28.4% increase in private sector activity to $83 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $71 million), partially offset by a reduction in public sector activity of 19.4% to $29 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $28.6 million).
- new house construction increased by 29.6% to $68 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $55.3 million), although remains the largest component of residential construction (Chart 7).
- other residential construction (units, townhouses, etc.) increased by $1 million from $9 million to $10 million (below the 5-year December quarter average of $8.7 million).
- alterations and additions declined by 13.2% to $34 million (above the 5-year December quarter average of $35.4 million).
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.
Residential 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 March 2025:
- the trend number of residential building approvals in the NT declined from 52 to 46 in the month and declined by 30.3% or 20 in the year-ended March 2026. In original year-ended terms, approvals for:
- houses declined by 29.1% from 55 to 39
- other residential (units, townhouses, etc.) increased from 6 to 18
- alterations, additions and conversions remained negligible.
- the value of total residential building approvals in the NT declined by 8.1% in the year-ended March 2026 to $57 million, in original current price terms.
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
- This analysis is based on the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) quarterly data on engineering construction and building activity, and the monthly data from the building approvals surveys.
- The ABS’s quarterly data on engineering construction and building activity is measured on a value of work done basis, compared to the GSP data. GSP data reflects the total gross value added to GSP by the industry, which includes wages paid to employees and value of construction work done. The engineering construction survey data excludes the cost of land, and repair and maintenance activities as well as the value of any transfers of existing assets.
- The ABS building activity survey is compiled using building approval details and returns collected from builders and other individuals and organisations engaged in building activity. The estimates represent all approved public and private sector residential building jobs valued at $10,000 or more and non-residential building jobs valued at $50,000 or more. The statistics relate to building activity so construction activity not defined as building such as the construction of roads, bridges, railways and earthworks are found in other ABS publications.
- The ABS’s building approvals survey is also 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 and non-residential buildings. This survey measures the number and value of building work approved for residential and non-residential buildings, including all approved residential buildings valued at $10,000 or more and all approved non-residential buildings valued at $50,000 or more.
- The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (DPI) also publishes a construction snapshot on a quarterly basis. The DLI's construction snapshot provides an overview of construction activity for major works over $500,000, reflecting both current and potential future construction-related work for NT regions. To view the latest construction snapshot, refer to DLI's industry section on their website.