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.
Hammerhands Wanted in Invercargill
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Extrastaff are looking for fit, keen, energetic hammer hands for multiple positions in Invercargill. Have no experience but would like to see if the role is for you? We want to hear from you. Apply online!
What we offer:
Competitive Pay
Ongoing training and support
PPE supplied
Requirements:
To have a good attitude and be willing to work hard
Be able to pass a pre-employment drug screen
Have your own transport
Please apply online.
Apply Now
Share
Experienced Arborist
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We are looking for an experienced Arborist who has a relevant qualification and experience to perform this role to a high standard
You will need to be reliable and motivated to show up for work every day, flexibility with location is a huge advantage. This is a close team of workers so you will need to work well in a team.
You will be working on varied sites, including residential properties, council grounds, private grounds etc, so you will need your own transport.
If you are ready to get st
Die Cutter Operator needed
City:
Auckland
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Die Cutter Operator Wanted
We're looking for an experienced and diligent Die Cutter Operator who possesses knowledge in trades and manufacturing. This is a great opportunity to join a well-established and thriving team based in Auckland, New Zealand.
Job Responsibilities Include:
Operation of die cutting equipment accurately and efficiently
Performing quality control on completed jobs
Maintaining work areas and equipment
Assuring safety standards are met
Preference will be given to indivi
Concrete Labourer with Forklift experience
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We have a fulltime role available for an experienced forklift operator who is happy to spend a large part of each day doing concrete labouring work
This role involves about a 1/4 of your day operating a 10 Tonne forklift, and the other 3/4 of the day doing precast concrete work
You will need
- F endorsement
- Current OSH certificate
- Experience driving 10 Tonne forklifts
- Good health and safety knowledge
- Not be afraid to get your hands dirty
- Be a fast learner
- Self motivated
- O