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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Warehouse Picker/Packer - Forklift and Trailer Handling
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
About Us: We are a leading manufacturing company in Auckland, dedicated to delivering high-quality products to our clients. Our success is driven by a collaborative team committed to excellence and innovation.
Role Overview: We are seeking a reliable and skilled individual to join our team as a Warehouse Picker/Packer, Forklift Operator and Trailer Driver. In this multifaceted role, you will be responsible for accurately picking and packing materials, operating forklifts to move goods within ou
Diesel Mechanic
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Full Time
Date:
14/01/2026
If you're a capable Diesel Mechanic who enjoys a bit of variety and wants to work somewhere where you’re treated like part of the family, not just a number, then this could be the right fit for you.
Apply now or get in touch with Matt
at Muster
for further details on 09 394 7444.…..
Roofers needed!
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Our client is looking for roofers with ANY level of experience in commercial or residential roofing to join their team. Majority of their work is long run, however tile or tray roofing experience would be highly valued to this role.
Our ideal candidate;
Experience with commercial roofing, residential also valuable
Experience working with flashings highly valuable
Confident working with long rung
Have good hand-eye co-ordination, grip strength, an eye for detail and not afraid of heights!
O