Trades & Services Jobs
About the Trades & Services Industry 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.
Globally, skilled trades are the highest in demand. The bottom line is that New Zealand needs skilled tradespeople to contribute to its development, and last year the Trades and Services industry was booming. It was among the fastest-growing industries on SEEK with a 16.9% increase in job opportunities. The industry recorded more than 3,400 new roles year-on-year and the average advertised salary was $59,646.
Growth in this industry was driven primarily by the housing market in Auckland, with the city accounting for 9.4% of the total growth in job opportunities year-on-year.
Roles advertised in Automotive Trades made up the biggest contribution to the overall growth in Trades & Services, with 3.7% growth in job opportunities year-on-year. This was followed by Labourers (2.5%) and roles in the Building Trades (2.3%).
Demand for Trades and Services in New Zealand
New Zealand suffers from a significant skills shortfall in the Trades & Services industry and there is subsequently a strong demand for talented individuals across a number of roles. The current shortage amounts to around 60,000 workers in building and construction alone.
The growth in job opportunities across Building Trades (2.3%) and Labouring (2.5%) was driven by the housing boom. New Zealand needs to continue to build more than 30,000 new homes each year if we are to keep up with rising demand. Half of the jobs shortfall is estimated to be for trades qualified workers. That translates into great opportunities for those considering construction as a career.
In addition, the building and construction industry is becoming increasingly specialised, meaning that there are qualifications available for specialized trades, and plenty of scope for employment in these areas.
The sector can be broken down into the following categories:
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Automotive trades
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Labourers
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Building trades
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Technicians
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Welders & Boilermakers
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Carpentry & Cabinet Making
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Cleaning Services
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Fitters, Turners & Machinists
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Gardening & Landscaping
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Hair & Beauty Services
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Nannies & Babysitters
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Locksmiths
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Bakers & Pastry Chefs
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.
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Automotive Electrician
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Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
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Electrician (General)
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Electric Line Mechanic
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Baker
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Bricklayer
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Carpenter
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Carpenter and Joiner
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Composite Technician
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Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
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Fibrous Plasterer
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Floor Finisher
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Glazier
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Joiner
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Metal Casting Trades Worker (Foundry Moulder)
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Metal Fabricator
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Metal Machinist (First Class) (CNC Machinist)
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Motor Mechanic (General)
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Motor Mechanic (General) (Automotive Air Conditioning Technician)
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Panel Beater
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Plastics Technician
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Plastics Engineer
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Roof Tiler
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Roof Plumber
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Scaffolder
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Sheetmetal Trades Worker
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Solid Plasterer
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Stonemason
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Vehicle Painter
Featured Jobs
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Welders wanted
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We invite talented and experienced Welders to be part of our team on a permanent basis in Christchurch.
If you are passionate about craftsmanship and eager to shape your career path with an industry leader, this role may be your dream destination.
Enjoy the flexibility and freedom in your work,
Be part of complex and competitive projects,
Get unparalleled learning and growth opportunities.
Key job roles include:
Interpret blueprints, drawings, and measurements to plan layouts,
Weld compon
Scaffolder - Hamilton
City:
Hamilton
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We’re on the lookout for experienced Scaffolders to join our team on a range of commercial and residential projects across Wellington. If you take pride in your work, value safety, and enjoy being part of a solid crew, we’d love to hear from you.
What we’re looking for:
Minimum 2 years’ scaffolding experience (commercial or residential)
Confident with tube & clip and/or Layher systems
Ability to read and interpret scaffold plans
Strong commitment to safety and teamwork
Requirements:
Curre
Trade Assistant Electrical
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
1 day ago
Electrical Trade Assistant
We’re looking for multiple Electrical Trade Assistants to join a variety of projects across Auckland. If you’ve got a valid Limited Electrical License and experience on-site, we want to hear from you. This role offers consistent, hands-on work supporting registered electricians across residential, commercial, and industrial sites.
Location: Auckland-wide
Start date: Immediate start available
Pay rate: $27–30 per hour (paid weekly)
Duties include:
Assisting registered electricians on-site
Cable pulling
Data & communications, commercial fit-outs
First fix inst…..