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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Carpenters
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We are looking for experienced Carpenters for a variety of sites around Christchurch
Ideally you will be NZ Trade Qualified, but we also have some positions available for those who are experienced but not qualified
We work with many companies across a range of areas - commercial, residential and civil
We have both long and short term roles available so can work with you to find something suitable for what you are looking for
What we do require from you:
A good reliable work ethic
Minimum o
Frame and Truss Workers Wanted Now
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
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
Frame And Truss
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
Extrastaff are seeking multiple hardworking, experienced frame and truss workers for various clients around Christchurch.
We are currently seeking candidates who can work night shift.
Whats in it for you:
Weekly pay
Temp2Perm possibility with proven ability
Competitive hourly rate
Strong pipeline of work to keep you busy
What you will be doing:
Assembling timber frames and trusses
Operating hand and power tools
Handling and moving materials as required
Maintaining a clean and organise
Pick Pack - Rolleston
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
19/01/2026
We are looking for Pick Packers for fulltime ongoing work in Rolleston
You will be responsible for moving boxes of food products onto pallets and plastic wrapping them ready to go out for delivery
Morning (6am) and Mid Morning (10am) starts available
You will need the following to be considered for this role
- Your own car and restricted licence
- Reliable and motivated
- Ability to follow instructions
- Ideally some previous pick pack experience
- OSH certificate would be beneficial but