An additional 36 occupations are now available for Northern Territory employers to recruit skilled migrants if they are unable to fill positions locally.

Most notably for the resources and energy industry and supporting supply chain, the occupations of Ship’s Master, Ship’s Engineer, Excavator Operator and Civil Engineering Technician are among the newly added professions.

Twenty-three occupations were removed, with only one (production manager mining) likely to affect the resources and energy industry.

The changes come after a new bilateral migration agreement took effect on January 1.

The second Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA II) between the NT Government and the Federal Government identifies 117 shortage occupations where employers can recruit skilled migrants if they are unable to fill positions locally.

DAMA II visa holders can now apply for permanent residency after working in the Territory for at least three years.

Under DAMA II, employers must seek to hire Australian workers through conducting labour market testing before any overseas workers can be recruited.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the new agreement complements the Territory Labor Government’s recently released population strategy, a comprehensive plan to attract people to live and work in the NT.

“More people means more jobs and a stronger economy, which means better schools, better hospitals and more police,” Mr Gunner said.

The first DAMA between the Federal and NT Governments was the first in Australia where a broader range of shortage occupations was available than those identified in standard skilled migration programs.