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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Water Technician
City:
Napier / Hastings
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
2/02/2026
Water Technician
We’re on the lookout for a skilled Water Technician to join a hardworking team in Hastings.
This role combines technical water operations with hands-on civil work, including machinery operation and infrastructure projects.
If you’ve got experience in the field and want to work with a well-established NZ client, we want to hear from you.
Location: Hastings, Hawke’s Bay
Start date: To be confirmed
Pay rate: From $30 per hour (depending on experience, paid weekly)
Your day-to-day duties will include:
Operating and monitoring water treatment plants, reservoirs, and distrib…..
Class 2 or 4 Truck Driver- Southwestern Suburbs - Immediate Start
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Extrastaff are seeking a motivated Class 2 or 4 Truck Driver to join a small, friendly landscaping team. We are after someone who is willing to get stuck in on the ground where needed, and who can work amongst a group of guys with great experience in the industry.
About the role:
Small landscaping business
Located in the Southwestern suburbs with work around town
They're involved in earthmoving, landscaping, paving, and concrete works amongst other jobs, big and small
About you:
You're you
Qualified Commercial Drainlayer - Christchurch
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
We are seeking a skilled and certified Drainlayer to join a great team in Christchurch. This role requires a hardworking, reliable individual with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to quality work. If you are passionate about your trade and looking for a rewarding opportunity, we'd love to hear from you!
You must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and police check.
What's in it for you:
Weekly pay
Competitive hourly rate dependant on experience
Strong pipeline of work to keep y
Construction Labourers
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
16/02/2026
Onestaff is on the hunt for reliable and hard-working construction labourers to join our pool for work across Christchurch.
These are hands-on roles that suit someone who enjoys variety in their work, take initiative and can work individually and with teams of people.
Our temporary assignments vary in their length so even if you are available short term and a few days of the week we want to hear from you.
Key tasks will include
General construction site labouring and site assistance
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