Recruit Filipino skilled workers for Western Australia

The demand

Western Australia recorded the highest recruitment rate of the six states in June quarter 2026 — 55 % of employers recruiting — and in the year to February 2026 its employers reported recruitment difficulty of 48 % against 44 % nationally, citing lack of suitable applicants and lack of technical skills first. Iron ore, lithium, gold and gas maintenance, resources construction and Perth's building programme all draw on the same trades.

The Filipino community in Perth is large and long established, and Filipino boilermakers, fitters and diesel mechanics have worked Pilbara and Goldfields sites for years.

The WA agreement landscape

• WA DAMA — the state-wide agreement covers metropolitan Perth and the regions with 310 occupations, 39 of which are reserved for regional WA; Excavator Operator is one of them. Employers must be established in WA for at least twelve months and obtain endorsement from Migration Services WA.
• Regional DAMAs — the Pilbara DAMA (heavy diesel mechanics, boilermakers among listed roles), the Kimberley DAMA and the South West DAMA operate alongside; the Goldfields DAMA is accessible until 31 December 2026 as it transitions into the WA DAMA. Where a regional DAMA lists the occupation, the employer must use it first.
• Standard route — the Core Skills stream for trades on the Core Skills Occupation List, anywhere in the state.

How we recruit for WA

Trade tests to your procedures in Manila — fabrication, heavy diesel, hydraulics, industrial electrical — with FIFO briefing before interview; TRA skills-assessment files built in parallel with your nomination; MWO Canberra verification and DMW job order. Everything here is subject to applicable Australian skills assessment, licensing, occupation and visa requirements.

Frequently asked questions

• Can a Perth employer use the WA DAMA?

  Yes — the WA DAMA covers metropolitan Perth, with a separate category and occupation set from regional WA.

• Which trades are the easiest to sponsor for WA mining?

  Boilermakers, diesel motor mechanics, fitters, electricians and welders — all on the Core Skills list, all with mandatory TRA assessment for Philippine passports, which we prepare in Manila.

• What about operators for the Pilbara?

  Only where the Pilbara DAMA or the regional part of the WA DAMA lists the role; we check the current list before quoting.