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.
Painters & Industrial Painters
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
3/02/2026
About the role
Are you an Industrial Spray Painter looking for an opportunity? Great, we have work scheduled to kick off at the end of Feb and early March. If you take pride in precision and working with high-performance coatings, we want to hear from you!
What You'll Do
Prepare metal, or structural surfaces by cleaning, grinding and sanding.
Mix and apply industrial paints and coatings using spray equipment.
Mask and protect areas that should not be coated
Apply primers, topcoats, and specialized protective finishes according to specifications
Inspect finished work for quality, coverag…..
Frame & Truss Worker - Christchurch
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Extrastaff are seeking multiple hardworking, experienced frame and truss workers for various clients around Christchurch. We are interested in speaking to Hammerhands with the right attitude and skillset. To be considered, you will be clean cut, reliable, and motivated.
You must have a clean MOJ and be able to pass a pre-employment drug test.
What's in it for you:
Weekly pay
Superb support from management with clear communication
Temp2Perm possibility with proven ability
Competitive hourly
Fabricator/ Welder
City:
Tauranga
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
22/01/2026
Fabricator/Welder
We’re on the hunt for an experienced Fabricator/Welder to join a Tauranga-based team working out of a brand new workshop. If you take pride in precision and know your way around mild steel, this is the role for you. Immediate start available.
Location: Tauranga
Start date: Immediate start available
Pay rate: $30–35 per hour (paid weekly)
You’ll be responsible for:
MIG and TIG welding
Structural steel fabrication
Working with mild steel
Drilling and cutting
Reading and interpreting drawings
Workshop-based work
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
Proven exp…..
Carpenters
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Onestaff is on the lookout for TQ Carpenters to join our busy team.
If you take pride in quality workmanship we want to hear from you.
What we're looking for
Trade qualification
Strong attention to detail and workmanship
Reliable, punctual and a good team player
Tools
What we offer
Hourly rates between ($30-35p/h)
Holiday pay
Paid weekly
If you are newly qualified or have years of experience under your belt apply NOW!
Apply Now
Share