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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Qualified Scaffolders
City:
Dunedin
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Our client is looking for new team members to join their fast growing team in the Queenstown-Lakes district. With a strong pipeline of work ahead, they need people who can hit the ground running
About The Role:
You will be erecting and dismantling scaffolding.
Loading and unloading the truck at the yard or site.
Calculating job requirements by planning and arranging scaffolding.
Work effectively alongside other construction workers and site managers.
Always adhere to the NZ health and safe
Machine Operator
City:
Wellington
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We have roles for three Machine operators based in Wellington.
You must:
Be reliable
Be willing to work on machines and ok to stand all day
Be happy to work 6am-2:30pm shifts Monday-Friday
If this sounds like you, please apply online.
Apply Now
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Delivery Driver
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
4 days ago
We are looking for a delivery driver in Queenstown.
We have a roles for the right candidate with the opportuinity to work with a really friendly and fun team - and get to see the sights of stunning Wanaka on your rounds every day!
We can offer:
Variety during the day
Long-term opportunity
Immediate start available
All PPE supplied
Weekly pay on-time, every time
The role:
Pick and pack the merchandise for outgoing shipments.Being responsible for receiving, storing and shipping merchandise kept in warehouse
Loading or unloading merchandise while it is being received or when it is being…..