Northern Territory traineeship numbers growing

The construction and trades workforce in the Northern Territory is set to expand with a new gas plant project expected to create almost 400 jobs.

Construction of the $34 billion Ichthys gas plant and marine supply base will boost trade jobs in the territory - including the recruitment of hundreds of indigenous trainees.

Northern Territory chief minister Paul Henderson said the project represented significant opportunity for indigenous workers who would kick-start their careers with traineeships through the project.

"The territory has a very bright future as we move into becoming the gas capital of northern Australia and I want to work with industry to ensure our indigenous territorians have access to high-wage high-skill jobs this economic growth will bring," Mr Henderson explained.

"The territory government has stepped up to the place and made a commitment to train 10,000 apprentices over four years and the Macmahon ROCKSTAR program is a perfect example of industry doing their bit to train the workforce of tomorrow."

Injecting $150 million into the territory's economy each year, the oil and gas sector is expected to peak at $450 million annually within the next five years.