Nearly half of Territory businesses say they believe workers are leaving the NT because of the high crime rates and rampant anti-social behaviour, according to a new survey by the Property Council NT.

Businesses said that it now takes more than six weeks to recruit qualified workers, while 75 per cent of those surveyed said a lack of skilled residents is the biggest factor preventing them from employing locals.

The survey was conducted by the Property Council NT and shows that 43 per cent of the respondents believe people are leaving the Territory due to the crime and anti-social behaviour and that the government should do more to keep people here by addressing crime problems.

Asked about interstate perceptions of the Territory, 86 per cent of respondents say that there is a strong belief that the NT is overcome with criminal activity. Others said there were concerns around housing availability.

Despite the Fyles Government claiming it has spent $13 million in programs to ease the critical skills shortages, businesses are still struggling to attract staff, the Property Council said.

“We can see from the survey there is a perception in the NT you will be confronted all day with anti-social behaviour and this spreads all the way south to Alice Springs,” said Property Council NT executive director Ruth Palmer.

Ms Palmer said while the government’s global worker attraction campaigns may help, issues closer to home need to be addressed.

“The global messaging campaigns don’t reflect what people see when they arrive,” she said.

Ms Palmer added that the government should re-examine the 2019 changes to the Liquor Act, which allows alcohol consumption in public places.

“Police can pour out grog but we have to have a conversation about going back to classifying consuming alcohol in public and public drunkenness as an offence,” she said.

“The worsening alcohol and crime problems in the NT do not just deter interstate migrants, but they make it harder for long-term locals to remain in the Territory as well.”

The survey also indicated that 15 per cent of businesses are trying to hire more than 30 staff, 14 per cent between 15 and 20 staff and 43 per cent less than five. It also showed that skilled workers made up 72 per cent of the workforce gap and that 29 per cent of businesses cannot fill vacancies.

“If the quality of life in the NT is continually challenged by crime and alcohol, you will very likely see the long-term local population and their investment leave the Territory,” Ms Palmer said.

It was not disclosed how many businesses or people took part in the survey.