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Trades & Services Jobs

Trades and Services Jobs in new zealand

About the Trades & Services Industry in New Zealand

Recruitment Agencies we recommend

Tradestaff

Tradestaff.png

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:

 

  • Automotive trades

  • Labourers

  • Building trades

  • Technicians

  • Welders & Boilermakers

  • Carpentry & Cabinet Making

  • Cleaning Services

  • Fitters, Turners & Machinists

  • Gardening & Landscaping

  • Hair & Beauty Services

  • Nannies & Babysitters

  • Locksmiths

  • 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.

 

  • Automotive Electrician

  • Diesel Motor Mechanic (including Heavy Vehicle Inspector)

  • Electrician (General)

  • Electric Line Mechanic

  • Baker

  • Bricklayer

  • Carpenter

  • Carpenter and Joiner

  • Composite Technician

  • Electronic Equipment Trades Worker

  • Fibrous Plasterer

  • Floor Finisher

  • Glazier

  • Joiner

  • Metal Casting Trades Worker (Foundry Moulder)

  • Metal Fabricator

  • Metal Machinist (First Class) (CNC Machinist)

  • Motor Mechanic (General)

  • Motor Mechanic (General) (Automotive Air Conditioning Technician)

  • Panel Beater

  • Plastics Technician

  • Plastics Engineer

  • Roof Tiler

  • Roof Plumber

  • Scaffolder

  • Sheetmetal Trades Worker

  • Solid Plasterer

  • Stonemason

  • Vehicle Painter

Featured Jobs

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Your Job Starts Here

City:

All New Zealand

Job Type:

Temporary

Date:

#N/A

Looking for work but can't find a role that suits you under our current vacancies?
No problems just click Apply Now - let us know your details, attach a CV if you can - and one of our team will be in touch!…..

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Painter Decorator Brush hand

City:

Otago / Southland

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

We are looking for ideally experienced or trade qualified painters or experienced brush hands for our Southland clients.
These roles are for an experienced, ideally trade qualified, painter/Decorator or experienced Brush Hand 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 an

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Mechanic

City:

Waikato

Job Type:

Temporary

Date:

18/01/2026

Light Vehicle Mechanic | Rotorua We are seeking a qualified or experienced Light Vehicle Mechanic to join a busy workshop in Rotorua. This is a great opportunity for someone who takes pride in their work and wants stable, ongoing employment.
Key duties:
Servicing and repairs on light vehicles (Petrol)
Diagnostics and fault finding
WOF repairs and general maintenance
What we’re looking for:
Trade qualified or proven light vehicle mechanical experience
Strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills
Reliable, motivated, and safety focused
Full Class 1 licence
What’s on offer:
Competitive…..

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Electrical Trades Assistant

City:

Auckland

Job Type:

Permanent / Full Time

Date:

16/02/2026

Our Auckland based company requires an Electrical Trades Assistant for an immediate start.
Your Responsibilities will include:
Assisting in troubleshooting electrical issues
Performing repairs as needed
Assisting electricians and other tradespeople with installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems and equipment.
If this sounds like you, please apply online today!
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