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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Freight Sorter - Wanganui
City:
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The Company
Our client is one of New Zealand's leading postage and courier companies, providing trusted services to both the public and businesses nationwide. They're now looking for motivated Freight Sorters to join their successful Wanganui team during a busy period.
The Role
As a Freight Sorter, you'll play a key part in ensuring parcels are sorted accurately and dispatched on time. Working alongside a supportive, close-knit team, you'll help keep operations running smoothly in a fast-pace
Team Leader
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
22 days ago
Team Leader
We’re on the hunt for a motivated Team Leader to take charge of marquee, flooring, and event equipment installs across Christchurch. This hands-on role is perfect for someone who leads from the front, keeps standards high, and enjoys working with a tight-knit crew in a fast-paced environment.
Location: Varied sites across Christchurch
Start date: Immediate start available
Pay rate: $28–32 per hour (paid weekly)
Your day-to-day will include:
Supervising and motivating small field teams on-site
Overseeing safe and efficient marquee installations and pack-downs
Planning and lo…..
Civil Machine Operators
City:
Bay of Plenty
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
The civil season is kicking off shortly, and our clients are looking to ramp up their teams across the region. We're on the lookout for skilled Machine Operators to join several leading civil construction companies for upcoming projects.
What's on offer:
Seasonal work with multiple respected civil companies
Competitive hourly rates, paid weekly + 8% annual leave
Variety of projects and sites (subdivisions, roading, drainage, infrastructure)
Opportunity to secure long-term work with the righ
Skilled Labourer
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
11 days ago
Skilled Labourer – Christchurch Central
Kickstart or grow your trades career with Tradestaff
We’re looking for motivated, reliable Skilled Labourers who take pride in their work and enjoy being part of a high-performing team. If you’re keen to learn, enjoy variety in your day, and want to work with a company that values safety, respect, and development — we want to hear from you.
Location: Central City, Christchurch
Start date: Immediate start available
Pay rate: $25–$27 per hour (paid weekly)
What you’ll be doing:
Assisting with site setup, clean-up, and general labouring tasks
Suppor…..