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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Stopper/Painter wanted in Timaru
City:
South Island
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled Stopper/Painter to join tour client's company in Timaru. With a reputation for delivering high-quality workmanship, we are looking for an individual eager to contribute to our ongoing success story.
Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
Performing stopping/plastering tasks
Applying paint and other finishes to internal and external surfaces of buildings and other structures
Preparing surfaces by cleaning, scraping, sanding, and so
Hygiene Operator
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
Looking for Hygiene Operators to join a busy Night Shift team at a Food Manufacturing Plant.
About the Role:
Shift Pattern - Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
Night shifts from 21:45 - 06:00
$28.42ph
Shift allowance of $8 per shift
Mt Wellington based
Responsibilities:
Ensure that equipment is cleaned to the approved methods.
Production lines are effectively de-kitted, and parts returned to the correct location after cleaning.
Ensure that quality, safety, hygiene and housekeep
Class 5 Chipseal Driver
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Our client is a well-established within the construction industry.
Whats in it for you:
Weekly pay
Temp to perm opportunities
Ongoing work
What we need from you:
Class 5 drivers licence
Experience with chipseal
Confident with driving class 5
What you will be doing:
Driving the class 5 chipseal truck
General carting around sites
Able to also get hands dirty if needed
if this sounds like you, apply online or alternatively email your interest with your resume to lauren.hansen@extrastaf
Work Work Work
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Our clients are indicating they will be requiring additional staff for up-and-coming work. We are keen to hear from individuals with experience or would be keen to learn and work in the following industries.
Warehousing, Labelling, Forklift driving, Devanning,
Civil - Labourer, TC, STMS, Drainage, Class 2 & Class 4 Drivers, WTR, Operators
Manufacturing/Production - Assembly, Fabrication, Production worker, Dispatch, Machine Operator.
Engineering - Fabricator, Welder, H-Vac installer, Mig & T