NBN goes on 4,500-worker recruitment blitz

NBN is set to hire another 4,500 workers, doubing its headcount to 9,000 as it seeks to hit a target of completing the network by 2020.

Along with its delivery partners, NBN is embarking on the "significant recruitment and training drive" to speed up the progress of connecting eight million homes to the broadband network within the next five years.

NBN is committing nearly $40 million "for training and awareness campaigns to help attract an extra 4,500 workers into the industry". It is signing agreements with TAFEs and Registered Training Organisations as well as establishing a national NBN skills register to help record worker accreditations.

It is looking for telco copper cable jointers, telco linesworkers, cablers, telco technicians and electrical linesworkers.

"To bring high speed broadband to Australians faster, our delivery partners will need a bigger pool of trained, skilled workers." said NBN chief executive CEO Bill Morrow.

The jobs will be spread across the country, with federal communications minister Malcolm Turnbull using an interview on ABC Radio National this morning to highlight the new jobs in regional areas hit by the mining slowdown.

NBN will look to hire an additional 1,300 workers in NSW and the ACT, some 850 more in Queensland, 800 in Victoria, 850 in Western Australia, 400 combined across South Australia and the Northern Territory and 200 in Tasmania.