Welcome to the second edition of peoplefusion’s Industrial Quarterly, focused on what’s happening across Newcastle and the Hunter’s heavy industry landscape. In this update we cover workforce insights, recruitment trends, standout placements, and emerging projects, along with the partnerships and people shaping impact across the sector.
The past quarter has seen steady employment across the region, with youth unemployment reaching record lows, yet workforce change remains front of mind. Organisations are responding through restructures, role redesign, and renewed focus on safety to strengthen their teams. At the same time, pressure points like workers comp premiums and hard-to-fill roles are sparking fresh conversations around attraction, retention, and career pathways. Major energy, transport and water projects are powering ahead, while manufacturing and logistics continue to adapt with a sharper focus on efficiency and growth, all of which is shaping a highly competitive workforce market.
What Do We Mean by “Industrial”? |
When we talk industrial, we’re talking about:
Manufacturing | Engineering | Construction | Infrastructure | Rail | Mining| Sustainability & Renewables | Energy & Power | Utilities | Water & Waste | Environmental | Defense | Port & Marine| Transport | Logistics
It’s a broad space with specialised talent and we’re here to support it all.
Industry In Focus |
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Chris Dickson, General Manager of AuditCo. We spoke about how AuditCo supports local organisations, their rapid growth and how they’re managing it while remaining locally focused, and what the future holds for auditing in the industrial sector.
Watch this space for our next feature, where we’ll be highlighting another local business making an impact. If you’d like your business to be showcased in an upcoming edition, get in touch – we’d love to share your story.
Market Insights & Industry News That Matter |
Workers Compensation Premiums in NSW Will Increase
In Newcastle and the Hunter, heavy industries are feeling the strain of the 8% average increase in NSW workers compensation premiums for 2025–26, with businesses carrying higher risk profiles facing even steeper rises. While measures like the Safe Employer Reward and upfront payment discounts offer some relief, many operators remain exposed without strong safety and claims management systems in place. We are working with clients alongside an external assessment provider to strengthen recruitment outcomes through pre-assessments that identify safety and risk traits in talent from the outset, an approach proven to reduce claims by up to 15%, lift supervisor ratings by 20–30%, and improve productivity by 10%, translating into savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. For more information, you can click here or explore our recent blog.
When AI Replaces HR Judgement: Are the Legal Risks Worth It?
AI is rapidly entering HR, but when algorithms start making hiring or payroll decisions without human oversight, the legal and financial risks for businesses are huge. From discrimination claims to costly payroll errors, the consequences could be severe. Read more here.
Enrolments Open for Courses at the Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence
The Hunter Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW Tighes Hill is set to play a key role in building the skilled workforce needed for the clean energy transition. Backed by joint Commonwealth and NSW Government funding, the centre will combine traditional trade skills with new digital and renewable technologies to support industries across the Hunter. While the facility is still coming to life, the first step is already underway with 4 free short courses now open for enrolment as part of the 2025 training rollout.
For more information click here.
Fair Work Ombudsman Surprise Inspections: Are Your Employer Records Compliant?
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has been doing spot checks on small businesses across six cities to see if employers are keeping proper records. If you have staff, now is a good time to make sure everything is in order. Read more here.
Fair Work Information Statement – August 2025 Update
Fair Work has released an updated Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS), effective August 2025. Employers must provide the latest version to all new employees when they start.
Access the updated FWIS here: Fair Work Information Statement – August 2025
Newcastle & Hunter Valley: Australia’s New Growth Centre
The Hunter has hit another gear. Big money is flowing into ports, renewables, transport, water security and advanced manufacturing, and it’s reshaping what’s possible across the region. The result? More jobs, more projects, and a pipeline that’s setting the pace for the rest of the country.
From major energy transformation projects to billion-dollar infrastructure upgrades, Newcastle and the Hunter are proving they’re not just keeping up — they’re leading the way.
Take a look at some of the standout projects driving the momentum here.
What We’ve Been Up To |
This quarter has been full steam ahead across the industrial space. We’ve reconnected with trusted partners, built new client relationships, and continued to back business growth with quality placements. Demand has stayed strong across operations, logistics, engineering, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure projects, keeping the pipeline moving. Industry events have also been buzzing, all signs the momentum continues.
A real highlight was being named Agency of the Year, recognition we’re incredibly proud of. We’ve also been out and about catching up with our amazing candidates and the incredible clients we’ve placed them with, including celebrating 8 successful placements in just 4 months with one valued partner. On top of this, our team has been active across the business community, attending the Women in Mining Energy and Resources Lunch, celebrating Rod Henderson’s leadership, hearing insights from NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey at the Economic Outlook, connecting with future talent at the Renewables Energy Career Expo, and staying close to industry updates through HunterNet General Members Meetings.
Recent Placements, Testimonials & Top Talent |
This quarter has seen strong demand across key industrial roles, with businesses seeking skilled talent to drive projects and maintain operational excellence. We’ve successfully matched high-calibre candidates across construction, engineering, maintenance, rail, mining
and technical roles, strengthening teams and supporting long-term workforce strategies.
Testimonials
“It has been great working with Krystle, very professional and kept things moving. She was detailed in explaining each stage and provided support where needed. It has been a great experience securing my new role with Krystle and the team at peoplefusion”
Rowan, Candidate
“Partnering with Krystle for the placement of two leadership roles was a seamless and highly effective experience. Her understanding of our business needs, combined with a strategic and consultative approach, ensured we attracted top-tier talent aligned with our culture and long-term goals. Krystle demonstrated exceptional professionalism, responsiveness, and insight throughout the process, making her an invaluable recruitment partner. I would confidently recommend her to any organisation seeking high-level placements and a trusted advisor in talent acquisition. “
Jess, Client
Top Industrial Talent Ready for Hire
The following candidates have been pre-screened and are actively seeking new opportunities within their relevant sector:
For Industrial Candidates view Krystle or Omali’s profile. |
Stay Connected |
Read Krystle’s latest blog on the industrial sector – Workers Compensation Premiums in NSW are Rising  here.
Needing Workforce Collaboration right now?
The market is clearly shifting, and conversations across sectors show a mix of movement, uncertainty and re-evaluation. If that’s something you’re navigating now or preparing for soon, we’d be glad to connect and explore how we can add value outside of our standard recruitment services. Our support includes;
- Salary benchmarking and banding
- Role redesign and alignment with market trends
- Career transition support for impacted employees
- Recruitment campaign design, including sensitive or confidential searches
- Partial Recruitment Solutions
- Guidance through restructures and workforce change
- Exclusive access to LinkedIn Talent Insights, including workforce data, location hotspots and competitor benchmarks
Tailored talent mapping to identify where the right candidates are, how in demand they are, and how your brand is performing in the market
Not yet connected on LinkedIn?
Krystle shares industry insights and news – connect here, or reach her at krystlep@peoplefusion.com.au | 02 4927 2007
Omali shares candidate, client, and team updates – connect here, or reach her at omalim@peoplefusion.com.au | 02 4927 2010
If you would like to read more about the services we offer here at peoplefusion for recruitment solutions within the Industrial sector, please see our Industrial Capability Document here.
Final Torque |
As we continue to grow and strengthen our connections across the industrial sector, we’re excited to bring you along on this journey. Our quarterly updates are designed to keep you informed, inspired, and connected to the latest movements in the local market. Whether you’re looking for top talent, industry insights, or simply want to stay in the loop, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
A special mention to all nominees for the upcoming Hunter Manufacturing Awards, we wish you every success and look forward to celebrating with you on the night.
Stay tuned, stay connected, and let’s build something great together.
Warm regards,
