Recruit Filipino skilled workers for Queensland

Queensland's demand

In Jobs and Skills Australia's June quarter 2026 survey, 52 % of Queensland employers were recruiting and 20 % expected to add staff — the highest proportion of any state or territory. Construction ahead of the 2032 programme, coal and metals in the Bowen Basin and the north-west, agriculture and food processing, and an aged-care sector growing with the population all draw on the same trades pool.

The Filipino community in Queensland is long established, which matters for retention: workers arrive to churches, associations and Filipino stores, not to isolation.

Routes that are specific to Queensland

• Far North Queensland DAMA and Townsville North Queensland DAMA — labour agreements with concessions for occupations regional employers cannot fill, including some roles not on the Core Skills list; employers seek endorsement from the Designated Area Representative first.
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) — for employers outside Brisbane, a five-year regional visa with its own permanent pathway.
• Standard Core Skills stream — for the trades on the Core Skills Occupation List anywhere in the state.

Trades we recruit for Queensland

Carpenters, tilers, painters and plumbers for construction; boilermakers, diesel fitters and electricians for mining maintenance; welders and fitters for manufacturing; aged-care workers under the industry labour agreement; chefs and cooks for hospitality. Queensland Building and Construction Commission licensing applies to building work above a threshold and electrical and plumbing licences to those trades; we plan the supervised period with you. Everything here is subject to applicable Australian skills assessment, licensing, occupation and visa requirements.

Frequently asked questions

• Which DAMA covers Cairns or Townsville?

  Far North Queensland DAMA for the Cairns region; Townsville North Queensland DAMA for Townsville and its surrounds. We check the current occupation lists with the Designated Area Representative.

• Is Brisbane regional for visa purposes?

  No — Brisbane is excluded from the regional definition; the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and the rest of the state are regional.

• Do you recruit for agriculture in Queensland?

  Yes, for occupations on the Core Skills list or a DAMA list; general farm labour is not sponsorable on the standard route.