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:
-
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
There are no Jobs available with your search criteria
Please try with another Job Sector or City
Or Check for spelling mistakes.
Corrugated Operator Wanted
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We need a diligent Corrugated Operator for our NZ-Auckland facility. You'll be responsible for ensuring the smooth and successful operation of our corrugated machinery, following safety protocols, and leading quality control in the manufacturing process.
As a Corrugated Operator at Extrastaff, you will:
Monitor corrugated machinery operation and make necessary adjustments.
Perform regular maintenance and minor repairs on machinery.
Perform quality checks on products and maintain quality stan
Landscaping Foreperson
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
1 day ago
Landscape Foreperson
Ready to step up and lead top-tier landscaping projects across Auckland? We’re on the lookout for a skilled Landscape Foreperson to take charge of hard and soft landscaping work on standout commercial and high-end residential builds. If you’ve got the experience and leadership to match, we want to hear from you.
Location: Projects across Auckland
Start date: January 2026
Pay rate: $35–$40 per hour (experience dependent)
You’ll be responsible for:
Leading and managing hard and soft landscaping projects
Overseeing site operations across high-end commercial and residen…..
Painting Trades Worker
City:
Bay of Plenty
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
Casual / Temporary Painter - Bay of Plenty Region
Based in Tauranga | Ongoing Casual Work
We're looking for an experienced Painter available for casual and short-term assignments across the Bay of Plenty region.
What we're looking for:
Proven painting experience (residential or commercial)
Reliable, hardworking, and able to work unsupervised
Good attention to detail and pride in your work
Current driver's licence and your own reliable transport
Must be available for short-notice or tempo
Qualified electricians - Immediate starts
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Our busy client is looking for NZ registered electricians to join their busy company, working across Christchurch on both residential and commercial projects. Immediate starts and competitive pay rates for experienced applicants!
Our ideal candidate;
MUST be NZ qualified
Must have proven experience and references
Experience on either residential or commercial
Own relevant tools is a bonus but not a must have
Reliable transport to get to and from work
Ability to pass a drug test
Ability t