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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Waterproofers Wanted in Christchurch
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
We are looking for experienced Waterproofers to join our business, Extrastaff Limited.
The Waterproofer is responsible for:
Knowledge of Waterproofing membrane detailing/installation.
Knowledge of Steel reinforcing spacing and installation/layout.
Ability / Experience with work site inspections regarding project progress, equipment condition, and safety or to ensure that specifications and standards are met.
Provide assistance to workers engaged in construction or tanking/waterproofing acti
Truck Drivers Wanted
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
16/02/2026
Our client is New Zealand's Infrastructure, Industrial and Coatings Services specialists with more than 35 years experience.
You will be doing everything from pipeline inspection and repair, to drainage maintenance, hydro excavation, liquid waste management, specialist industrial and marine services, ultra-high-pressure water-jetting and more!
You will be down-to-earth, friendly and pride yourself on delivering excellence. Experience with high-pressure water jetting, vacuum loading or flushing
Painter Decorator
City:
Dunedin
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
16/02/2026
Painter Decorator
We are looking for and experienced or trade qualified painter for one of our valued clients.
This role is for an experienced, ideally trade qualified, painter/Decorator and will involve working on various worksites. The work includes surface prep, roller and brush work, and other associated tasks, including interacting with clients to achieve a great result.
Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and be living in NZ to be considered for
Warehouse Storeperson
City:
Palmerston North
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
16/02/2026
The Role:
No previous experience is required, but is preferred. You will quickly become part of the team and have the following responsibilities:
Load bags of different seeds into processing machines
Checking order slips
Bagging products and loading bags onto pallets within a warehouse.
These machines will mix the seed with a protective coating before being dispatched to the farms.
This is a highly physical role. You and the team will be lifting 25kg bags of seed consistently during proces