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Trades & Services Jobs

Trades and Services Jobs in new zealand

About the Trades & Services Industry in New Zealand

Recruitment Agencies we recommend

Tradestaff

Tradestaff.png

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

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Labourer

City:

Tasman / Marlborough

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

Labourer
Exciting opportunity for a dedicated and hard-working individual in Nelson. We are currently seeking a Labourer to join a small, friendly team based company. This is a physically demanding role, hence the need for someone with great stamina.
Key Responsibilities:
Maintenance of the city including leaf blowing and sump inspections
Performing physical work outdoors in all kinds of weather
Clearing leaves from the streets
Inspecting sumps and reporting blocked ones
Driving a ute fro

Apply Now

Painters Needed- Dunedin

City:

Dunedin

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

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
- Ongoing work all over Dunedin!
- 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

Apply Now

Experienced Digger Operator

City:

Christchurch

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

We are looking for an experienced Digger Operator to join our team in Christchurch.
You must:
Be able to work unsupervised
Know how to read and interpret plans to set heights on site
Know how to achieve a 95% NDM test
Be able to prep a sub base within 10mm.
If this sounds like you, please apply online
Apply Now
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Carpenters Wanted in Auckland

City:

Auckland

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

Nationwide – Roles available across all regions of New Zealand
Pay & Benefits:
$25.00 - $40.00 per hour
Minimum 30 hours guaranteed per week
Full-time, permanent roles
PPE and tools provided where required
Travel or relocation support (case-by-case basis)
Job Description:
Extrastaff, a Labour Hire Company, is hiring full-time carpenters to support project work throughout New Zealand. You will work on commercial, residential, and infrastructure construction sites, with site location based

Apply Now
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