Construction Jobs in New Zealand
Recruitment Agencies we recommend
Tradestaff
Tradestaff is New Zealand's leading supplier of temporary and permanent workers to the trade sector. With 12 locations throughout the country Tradestaff has a broad range of work available now – from unskilled to highly specialised.
About the Construction Industry
The construction sector in New Zealand employs around 170,000 people across a range of jobs. Construction and maintenance of infrastructure and buildings is an incredibly important part of the economy and influences productivity in the majority of other sectors. The quality of this work also impacts the welfare of New Zealanders in general, from creating safe housing to safe built environments.
The latest reports on the construction industry in New Zealand show increasing growth across all sectors and sub-sectors. They also stress that the industry is an integral part of a highly complex ecosystem which includes regulators, planning authorities, materials manufacturers and suppliers, property developers and a range of professional service providers.
Demand for Skills in the Construction Sector
Construction is a labour intensive activity and many firms report difficulty in recruiting skilled and experienced labour.
The construction sector covers a wide range of jobs and skill-sets, from tradespeople and labourers through to project managers and engineers. The industry is experiencing an unprecedented increase in workload following earthquake damage in some major centres like Canterbury and Wellington. There is also a massive demand for housing mostly centred in Auckland but generally nation-wide.
The biggest concentration of construction workers and jobs is in Auckland, followed by Canterbury, then Wellington, then the Waikato.
Sub-Sectors of the Construction Sector
Building Construction
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Residential Building
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Non-residential Building
Heavy and Civil Engineering
Construction Services
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Land Development and Site Preparation
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Building Structure Services
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Building Installation Services
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Building Completion Services
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Other Construction Services
Popular Jobs in Construction
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Construction Director – Civil Engineering
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Regional Finance Director – PFI/PPP Contracts
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Project Manager – Construction Contractor
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Senior Management Accountant – Special Projects Construction
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Senior Architectural Designer – Civil Engineering
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Group Financial Analyst – National Construction Contractor
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Engineering Manager – Offshore Renewable Developer
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Project Accountant – Leading Construction Contractor
For Visa Applicants: Roles On the Skills Shortages List
If you are offered a job which appears on the list below, and you have the qualifications and experience to match, getting a work visa will be easier. This is because the government has identified that employers need to recruit people from overseas to help meet demand for your skills.
Because construction tends to be a boom-and-bust industry heavily influenced by business cycles and variables like the weather, the industry often experiences skill shortages and a difficulty in upskilling employees.
In boom times skill gaps tend to be met through immigration. Immigrants skilled in construction may therefore be well considered for visa approval.
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Building Inspector
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Building Surveyor
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Construction Project Manager
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Surveying or Spatial Science Technician
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Surveying Technician
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Project Builder
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Quantity Surveyor
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Surveyor
Industry Snapshots
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170,000 - People employed in the construction sector
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5th - Largest sector in NZ
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7.6% - of the workforce employed in construction jobs
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30% - Increase in employment numbers between 2002-2012
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44,000 - Number of people employed in building of residential and non-residential buildings
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$30 billion + - Construction sector’s average annual contribution to the economy
Featured Jobs
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Carpenter
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Contract
Date:
4 days ago
We are looking for Carpenters to join the Tradestaff Queenstown team.
What’s on offer?
Competitive rates and weekly pay
Exciting range of opportunities and projects
Immediate start available
We provide free safety gear (PPE)
Long term and short-term opportunities available
Easy process
Unlock a world of opportunities—working with us means access to a variety of roles and personalised support to find the perfect fit for you!
The role:
Perform a variety of carpentry tasks, including measuring, cutting, and assembling materials
Install and repair structures such as walls, floors, ceili…..
Gardener
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
17 days ago
We are looking for a skilled gardener with experience in garden maintenance (not solely landscaping) to join our team! The ideal candidate will have expertise in using petrol and power tools, including weed eaters and lawnmowers, as well as the ability to carry out a variety of gardening tasks.
Key Responsibilities:
Lawn mowing (push mower) and weed eating
Weed management and spraying herbicides
Fertiliser application and other pesticide tasks
Trimming and pruning plants using motor tools (electric/petrol hedge trimmers)
General garden maintenance, ensuring gardens are kept to a high sta…..
Concrete Placer
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We are looking for an experienced Concrete Placer
This will be a full time ongoing position for the right person
Join a great team based in North Canterbury, in a stable long term role
What we require from you:
Must be confident in all aspects of concrete work
Experienced with placing and finishing
Prior experience using walk behind float machines
Able to work unsupervised
Able to pass a pre employment drug test
Own transport to get to and from work
A good work ethic
Can commit to ful
Forklift Drivers Wanted!
City:
Gisborne
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We are looking for a skilled Forklift Driver. You will be working with a tight knit warehousing team in a fast paced environment to assist with picking and palletizing orders, wrapping pallets, organizing dispatch paperwork, loading and unloading trucks and other general stores work. The successful candidate will ideally have experience driving a counter balance maneuvering around tight spaces.
Apply Now
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