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Easy Skill releases Papua New Guinea labour market insights.
Q4 2025 report highlights key labour market trends in Papua New Guinea and the challenges surrounding skills availability.
Easy Skill has published a quarterly labour market note outlining trends and challenges across Papua New Guinea’s advertised jobs for Q4 2025. The report is based on an analysis of 500+ job postings collected from public job boards, covering 7 industries and 50+ classified job titles. The findings identify structural constraints, skills shortages, and patterns of demand influencing workforce planning across the country.
The analysis indicates that the Mining & Resources sector accounts for 60-65% of total job demand. Other sectors, including Transport & Logistics, Recruitment & HR Services, Agriculture, and Financial & Corporate Services, contribute to recruitment activity but represent a smaller share. The top three sectors combined represent approximately 80% of all postings. While the market remains concentrated, total job posting volumes showed a moderation of volatility (-20% QoQ), indicating a shift from peak mobilisation toward operational stabilisation across major sites.
Skills availability remains a factor for employers, with 85-90% of job postings requiring immediate PNG work rights. Demand is highest for specialised technicians (~25-30%), followed by equipment operators (~20%), engineers and geosciences (~15%), and supervisors or trainers (~10%). Certified profiles, particularly those linked to NATTB Trade Certificates, are noted to be in undersupply. Additionally, proficiency in specific software is frequently required; Pronto ERP is referenced in 75-80% of technical and support roles, while Surpac, Deswik, or AutoCAD are mandatory for most engineering profiles.
Labour demand is geographically concentrated, with over 60% of roles tied to a small number of operational regions. The Eastern Highlands (~35-40%), National Capital District (~25%), and Morobe Region (~15%) account for the majority of advertised positions. This concentration contributes to localised labour shortages and limits worker mobility between provinces. The report notes that 60-65% of total demand is restricted to just two regions, reinforcing the need for regional recruitment strategies.
The report presents several recommendations for employers navigating the current market:
- Plan beyond peak cycles
- Secure certification pipelines
- Prioritise retention
- Anchor recruitment geographically
- Integrate language capability
