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:
-
Automotive trades
-
Labourers
-
Building trades
-
Technicians
-
Welders & Boilermakers
-
Carpentry & Cabinet Making
-
Cleaning Services
-
Fitters, Turners & Machinists
-
Gardening & Landscaping
-
Hair & Beauty Services
-
Nannies & Babysitters
-
Locksmiths
-
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.
-
Automotive Electrician
-
Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)
-
Electrician (General)
-
Electric Line Mechanic
-
Baker
-
Bricklayer
-
Carpenter
-
Carpenter and Joiner
-
Composite Technician
-
Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
-
Fibrous Plasterer
-
Floor Finisher
-
Glazier
-
Joiner
-
Metal Casting Trades Worker (Foundry Moulder)
-
Metal Fabricator
-
Metal Machinist (First Class) (CNC Machinist)
-
Motor Mechanic (General)
-
Motor Mechanic (General) (Automotive Air Conditioning Technician)
-
Panel Beater
-
Plastics Technician
-
Plastics Engineer
-
Roof Tiler
-
Roof Plumber
-
Scaffolder
-
Sheetmetal Trades Worker
-
Solid Plasterer
-
Stonemason
-
Vehicle Painter
Featured Jobs
There are no Jobs available with your search criteria
Please try with another Job Sector or City
Or Check for spelling mistakes.
Painters Needed- Invercargill
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We are seeking skilled painters capable of producing high quality work for various projects. Experience with residential or commercial painting is an advantage.
What we can offer you;
- Competitive pay rates
- Full PPE provided and assistance with any training courses or certificates required
- Working for a company who provides ongoing support in your career
Our ideal candidate;
- Has a fantastic eye for detail!
- Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
- Physically fit
- Gr
Trade Assistant Electrical - Cable Support
City:
Waikato
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
12 days ago
⚡ Trade Assistant – Electrical (Cable Support Systems) | Taupo Ongoing Work | Great Team | Career Growth
💡 About the Role: Tradestaff Taupo is looking for a motivated Trade Assistant with electrical and must have experience building cable ladder support systems using Unistrut components. Join a busy team working on a variety of projects around the Taupo region. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to get hands-on experience in the electrical trade while earning great money and developing valuable skills.
You’ll be working alongside qualified electricians, helping with installa…..
Nightshift Forklift Driver
City:
Napier / Hastings
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
About the Role:
We are currently seeking an experienced and reliable Nightshift Forklift Driver for a short-term assignment from 6th January to the 16th January for a reputable family-owned transporting company in Hastings. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment. As a key member of the team, you will be responsible for loading and unloading trucks, ensuring physical tasks are completed safely and efficiently.
Our client values safety,
Carpenter Carpenter Carpenter
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
Extrastaff are looking for experienced carpenters and hammerhand who have experience in framing, pre-nail framing and finishing work. Working on sites around Christchurch our client has several long-term projects, large and small scale fit-outs, and are looking for additional staff to assist on these projects.
The roles that are available are on-going and full time for the duration of the project through until the new year.
Previous experience in light commercial, fit-outs and residential requ