Jobs & Money Detail
Careers in NZ construction
You don’t need to look far for evidence that the New Zealand construction industry is booming
Between mid 2001 and mid 2004, industry employment increased by almost one-third, accounting for almost one-quarter of all jobs created in New Zealand during this period.
About 150,000 people work in the New Zealand construction industry, making up almost 8 per cent of the country's workforce. This includes bricklayers, carpenters/joiners, plasterers, plumbers, painters/decorators and electricians, as well as labourers, machinery operators, managers and administrative personnel. Many builders are self-employed, and specialist sub-contractors usually work in small businesses.
The strong growth of recent years has been concentrated in the residential construction sector, but now the non-residential construction industry– including infrastructure
projects (hospitals, schools, roading and transport) and commercial premises – is experiencing high demand. You need to check if your qualification is recognised in New Zealand. If your qualification is not included in the list, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority can assess your qualification to determine whether it is acceptable. However, there are no compulsory registration requirements to work in the construction industry in New Zealand.
Industry organisations such as Registered Master Builders, Certified Builders Association of New Zealand, Master Painters and Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers help to maintain industry standards. Membership isn't compulsory; however, these organisations encourage good safety practices and provide members with industry information and some insurance cover. Sometimes specific industry qualifications are required for membership.
Denise Cooper, Administration Supervisor at DELTA, a well established construction firm in the lower South Island region, with nearly 500 full time staff, advises Emigrate New Zealand how they recruit their employees, "We use an agency for skilled positions and do our own recruitment for lower level positions. All our current vacancies are on our website,"
So what can you do if you are looking to find a job in the New Zealand construction industry?
Approaching construction companies in person either by phone, email or letter is a good idea as Denise points out, "Send a CV and covering letter the company you are applying for. It's advisable to keep the CV concise and make sure you provide at least two referees the employer can contact."
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