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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Asbestos Workers Wanted!
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
Our client is seeking individuals with class A and B tickets
What you will be doing:
Asbestos Removal
Working with Asbestos
What we need from you:
Asbestos A & B ticket
Own Fitted Mask
Must have experience working with Asbestos
What's in it for you:
Weekly pay
Great projects to be apart of
Great company culture
If this sounds like you, please apply online
Apply Now
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Ashburton Labourer Wanted
City:
South Island
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
Join a dynamic and rapidly growing company dedicated to excellence. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment where every team member can thrive and grow. Our commitment to quality and innovation has positioned us as industry leaders in our field.
About the Role:
We are looking for a motivated Labourer to join our team in Ashburton. This permanent position offers the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, providing support in the trades and manufact
Asbestos Workers Wanted!
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
Calling all competent Asbestos Workers.
Our client is seeking individuals who hold class B Asbestos ticket, not able to work November2nd/ 3rd (Saturday & Sunday) this will be 10-hour shifts starting from 7am.
What you will be doing:
Vacuum cleaning
Washing membrane
Must have:
Asbestos ticket class B
Be able to pass a drug screen
Clean police record
What's in it for you:
PPE Provided
Competitive hourly rate
Great company
If this sounds like something that interests you, please email
Asphalter
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
4/10/2025
Asphalter We’re looking for an experienced Asphalter to join a hard-working civil crew delivering roading and surface work across Christchurch. If you know your way around a rake and roller—or have a background in civil construction and want to get into asphalt—this could be the role for you.
Location: Varied sites across Christchurch (based from Woolston)
Start date: Immediate start available
Pay rate: $28–34 per hour, experience based (paid weekly)
Your role will involve:
Preparing sites by shovelling, raking, sweeping, and compacting base layers
Laying and spreading asphalt by hand or…..