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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General Labourer
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
21 days ago
General Labourer – Dunedin
Starting in 2026 we’re on the lookout for reliable and hardworking General Labourers to join our team in Dunedin. With a variety of tasks and worksites, this is a great role for someone who enjoys mixing it up and keeping busy.
Day-to-day duties may include:
Physical labour tasks such as wheelbarrowing, digging, planting, spraying, and cleaning
Site clean-up, preparing work areas, and removing waste or hazardous materials
Assisting with set-up and take-down of scaffolds, ladders, or marquees
Supporting tradespeople such as electricians, carpenters, and plumbers…..
Variety of Job Opportunities with OneStaff - Whakatane
City:
Bay of Plenty
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
Looking for work in the Bay of Plenty?
We've got roles to suit just about everyone! Whether you're a student home for the holidays, chasing weekend shifts, or ready for a change - we'd love to chat!
What we are looking for:
Warehousing: Pick/Pack, Forklift, Dispatch, Team Lead
Civil: Labourers, Drivers, TC/STMS, Operators
Manufacturing: Production, Machine Ops, Fabrication
Engineering: Welders, Fabricators, HVAC
Driving: Class 2-5 (Road Ranger welcome!)
What you'll get:
Weekly pay
Full
Class 4/5 Drivers Waikato
City:
Hamilton
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
NOW HIRING: Class 4/5 Truck Drivers – Asphalt & Civil Projects
Location: Hamilton
Company: Extrastaff
Are you an experienced Class 4/5 Truck Driver with a background in asphalt work or civil construction? Join Extrastaff, New Zealand's leading provider of skilled labour, and play a key role in delivering essential infrastructure projects across Auckland.
We’re looking for reliable, motivated drivers to join our growing team. If you're ready for ongoing, long-term work with great pay, job sec