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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Paint Processor
City:
Napier / Hastings
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
Our client is seeking a reliable and physically fit paint processor for a short-term contract of approximately one month, with the potential to become long-term for the right candidate. This role is ideal for someone who can start immediately and works well within a small team.
Role Duties:
Lifting buckets of paint into barrels
Cleaning out containers
Dismantling products for recycling
Hours:
Monday to Friday
7:00am - 3:00pm
Pay Rate:
$28.95 per hour
Skills & Attributes:
Physically fi
Waterproofers Wanted in Christchurch
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We are looking for experienced Waterproofers to join our business, Extrastaff Limited.
The Waterproofer is responsible for:
Knowledge of Waterproofing membrane detailing/installation.
Knowledge of Steel reinforcing spacing and installation/layout.
Ability / Experience with work site inspections regarding project progress, equipment condition, and safety or to ensure that specifications and standards are met.
Provide assistance to workers engaged in construction or tanking/waterproofing acti
Construction Labourers
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
19/01/2026
The Role
You'll be working on a range of construction projects including residential builds, commercial developments, and civil sites. You'll need to be alert, take direction well, and have the initiative to get stuck in. We want people who aren't afraid of hard work and know how to hold their own on a busy work site. If you're reliable, committed, and eager to grow - this is a great opportunity to prove yourself.
Assisting tradespeople and site managers with daily tasks
Carrying out general
Joiner
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Onestaff Invercargill are the leading supplier of temporary and permanent staff to many industrial based clients in Southland and we are currently seeking a skilled or semi skilled joiner or cabinet maker to join our clients small and happy team.
Joiner / Carpenter Wanted
We are looking for an ideally experienced or would consider a semi skilled and reliable Joiner/cabinet maker to join our clients team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for quality craftsmanship and attention to detail.