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
-
Residential Building
-
Non-residential Building
Heavy and Civil Engineering
Construction Services
-
Land Development and Site Preparation
-
Building Structure Services
-
Building Installation Services
-
Building Completion Services
-
Other Construction Services
Popular Jobs in Construction
-
Construction Director – Civil Engineering
-
Regional Finance Director – PFI/PPP Contracts
-
Project Manager – Construction Contractor
-
Senior Management Accountant – Special Projects Construction
-
Senior Architectural Designer – Civil Engineering
-
Group Financial Analyst – National Construction Contractor
-
Engineering Manager – Offshore Renewable Developer
-
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.
-
Building Inspector
-
Building Surveyor
-
Construction Project Manager
-
Surveying or Spatial Science Technician
-
Surveying Technician
-
Project Builder
-
Quantity Surveyor
-
Surveyor
Industry Snapshots
-
170,000 - People employed in the construction sector
-
5th - Largest sector in NZ
-
7.6% - of the workforce employed in construction jobs
-
30% - Increase in employment numbers between 2002-2012
-
44,000 - Number of people employed in building of residential and non-residential buildings
-
$30 billion + - Construction sector’s average annual contribution to the economy
Featured Jobs
There are no Jobs available with your search criteria
Please try with another Job Sector or City
Or Check for spelling mistakes.
Leading Hand - Retaining & Foundation Work
City:
North Island
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
About the Role
You’ll be working full-time, leading a team on a variety of sites across the North Island. This is a practical, hands-on role that involves both supervision and physical labour. The role will require extended periods of travel (2-3 week blocks) outside Auckland from time to time.
Key Responsibilities:
Constructing timber, palisade, and concrete retaining walls
Re-levelling, re-piling, and foundation strengthening
Reading plans, marking out sites, and estimating materials
Ope
Casual General Labourers
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
16/02/2026
We are looking for physically fit staff for upcoming projects throughout South Auckland.
Roles would involve heavy lifting, digging, loading & unloading goods, devanning, basic assembly work
Locations - South Auckland
Rates - Between $24 - $25
Suitable Candidates
Physically fit as all roles are hands-on & most roles require heavy lifting (up to 25kgs)
Power tool experience a bonus but not necessary
Keen to learn and work well within a team setting
Conscious of Health & Safety and able to
TTM Worker
City:
Nelson
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
16/02/2026
Join AWF - Build Your Career in Traffic Management
AWF works alongside some of New Zealand's leading civil and roading companies, and we're preparing for a busy season ahead. We're looking for experienced TTM professionals and motivated individuals who want to gain their qualifications through AWF.
Whether you're already certified or ready to start your journey, this is your opportunity to secure work, competitive pay, and a potential pathway to long-term roles with top-tier civil companies.
General Labourers
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
About the Roles:
We have a variety of roles available, including:
General Labourers (site prep, heavy-lifting, moving materials)
Civil Labourers (drainage, roading, earthworks support)
Yard Hands (warehouse and yard-based work)
Skilled Labourers with previous construction experience
What We’re Looking For:
Be energetic and physically fit
Reliable with good work ethic
Reliable transport to get to site
Must be eligible to work in NZ and able to pass a pre-employment drug test
Site Safe