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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Trainee Scaffolder
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Onestaff Invercargill are the leading supplier of temporary and permanent staff to many industrial based clients in Southland.
The Job:
We currently have an exciting opportunity for hard working and enthusiastic individuals who are keen on getting into the scaffolding industry and to assist qualified scaffolders in the safe erection, modification, and dismantling of scaffolding on site, while learning trade skills and progressing toward a scaffolding qualification.
Key Responsibilities:
Assi
Hammerhand
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Our client is looking for a skilled hammerhand to join their busy team.
This role has consistent away work around the South Island so we are needing someone willing to work away from home on a regular basis
The ideal candidate will have:
Proven hammerhand experience
Skilled using a range of tools
Able to work away Monday - Friday when required (accommodation food and travel covered, plus away allowance) - always home for weekends
Clean MOJ (some of their work is on schools so this is essen
Electrical Trade Assistant - Auckland
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
To be successful for this role, you must have at least one (1) year experience as an Electrical Trade Assistant.
You MUST pass a drug and alcohol test.
Own set of tools is preferred.
Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.
Apply now if you can tick all the above boxes.
Apply Now
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