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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Frame and Truss Workers Wanted Now
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We have immediate starts available for self-motivated, reliable and practically-minded individuals. If you want to join New Zealand's largest supplier of building materials and hardware look no further.
Previous Frame and truss experience is desirable, however if not you will need to have been in a hammerhand role previously to be considered.
Day to Day:
Assembly of frames and trusses
Working with manual and/or automated saws
Dealing with both power and hand tools
You will have:
Have a mi
Outdoor Labourer- Nelson
City:
Tasman / Marlborough
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
We have a fulltime outdoor labouring position available now in Nelson.
What this involves:
- Hands on physical work
- Working outdoors in all the elements
- Be part of a small friendly team
- Fulltime work (Monday - Friday)
- Some driving involved
What you need:
- A good work ethic
- Must be reliable
- Full licence
- Ability to drive manual
- Must pass a drug test
Apply now if you are available to start immediately!
Apply Now
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Concrete Labourer with Forklift experience
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
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
Electrical Trade Assistant - Christchurch based
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We have a fantastic opportunity for someone who has their Electrical pre-trade. This is full time work and would be an immediate start for the right person.
What's in it for you:
Full time work
Opportunity for growth
PPE provided
Great company to work for
Competitive pay
Monday - Friday role
Superb support from management with clear, constant communication
Temp2Perm possibility with proven ability
Minimum Requirements:
You will have completed an electrical pre trade course
Own car an