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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Civil Class 5 Driver
City:
Palmerston North
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The Role
We're on the lookout for a Class 5 Driver to join a chip sealing crew in the Manawatu, driving road ranger gearboxes, truck and trailer, to move gear across sites on a variety of projects for the season.
Key Responsibilities:
Operate Class 5 vehicles
Safely handle road ranger gearboxes and ensure loads are secure.
Support the team with general site duties if required.
What We Offer:
Local work with occasional night shifts and weekend work.
All PPE provided, with opportunities fo
Production Work
City:
Manawatu / Whanganui
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The Opportunity
Join a fast-moving production team and put your factory experience to work in the cardboard manufacturing industry based in Levin. This hands-on role is perfect for those who enjoy physical work, thrive in busy environments, and want to grow within a long-standing, global company.
You'll operate high-speed machinery, handle finished goods, and help keep production running smoothly - all while getting paid to stay fit and active.
Perks of the job:
Permanent opportunities for r
Casual Production Worker
City:
Palmerston North
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The Role
We are looking for a casual on-call nightshift production team member to join our client's busy operation in Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North. You will be Health and Safety conscious, have high levels of mechanical aptitude and be willing to learn.
Key Responsibilities
Manual Handling of product - bagging and moving product to a designated area in the factory. The role will involve a mixture of light and heavy labour.
Operate blow moulder machines (start, stop, unjamming, adjustments,
Production Work
City:
Manawatu / Whanganui
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The Opportunity
Join a fast-moving production team and put your factory experience to work in the cardboard manufacturing industry based in Levin. This hands-on role is perfect for those who enjoy physical work, thrive in busy environments, and want to grow within a long-standing, global company.
You'll operate high-speed machinery, handle finished goods, and help keep production running smoothly - all while getting paid to stay fit and active.
Perks of the job:
Permanent opportunities for r