People come a long way to work in New Zealand, and with good reason. The country is known for its incredible landscapes, relaxed attitudes and high living standards. Wherever you look, there is a lot to enjoy, and employment opportunities to help you make the most of it. In recent times, job vacancies have risen to record-breaking levels, and while they have eased, there are still many places to go to kickstart your career in the country. Find out where is best to begin with our guide to the most in-demand jobs in New Zealand.
What job roles have the most vacancies in New Zealand?
The number of job vacancies in New Zealand is not officially published, making it hard to know exactly which roles are most frequently advertised. However, it is possible to get an idea of the areas in which the most people are being hired from the number of jobs that are filled. This data is continually collected by the government, allowing it to track changes over time.
Statistics show that the biggest increase in filled jobs between July 2023 and July 2024 was seen in healthcare and social assistance. The number of people working in this area rose by 4.5 per cent, from around 268,000 to 280,000. Evidently, health is a big priority in New Zealand.
Almost 90,000 people work in the country's public healthcare system. This makes Health New Zealand (also known as Te Whatu Ora) New Zealand's biggest employer. The organisation provides free healthcare nationwide, which requires a constant flow of clinical and non-clinical staff.
Indeed, Health New Zealand had 4,167 more workers in June 2024 than it did in June 2023, an increase of five per cent. Notably, there were 2,580 more nurses, which is a rise of 10 per cent. The number of midwives grew even faster, with an 11 per cent increase of 114 employees.
Although filled job numbers were slightly down in other sectors, this also brings opportunity. While a position may no longer be needed once it becomes unfilled, it may also be readvertised. Moreover, it is worth noting that the number of adverts is known to remain at a historically high level. Following a peak in 2022, it remains above its position in the years prior.
If you like the sound of working in the country's healthcare system, its education system is a great place to start. Find out all about studying medicine in New Zealand.
What job roles are growing in New Zealand?
Over the past five years, the job sector in which vacancies have grown the most is education. There were 20 per cent more adverts in the area in June 2024 than there were in June 2019. Increases have been seen in almost every part of New Zealand.
A growing need for staff in the country's schools has led to the government investing a lot of money into teacher training. As part of an NZD 2.9 billion package for education announced in this year's budget, NZD 53 million has been put towards maintaining and developing the supply of teachers. This covers 1,200 new in-school placements for trainee teachers (each given NZD 20,000 towards expenses and fees), as well as grants for up to 300 teachers who have qualified abroad.
Elsewhere, some sectors are growing in specific parts of the country. Over the past year, there have been regional increases in vacancy numbers in hospitality and business services. Both areas have grown in the Northland, Southland and Otago regions. The third of these is where you will find the university city of Dunedin.
Growth can also be seen over a short-term period. According to employment service SEEK, the number of job advertisements increased in several sectors between July and August 2024. These included energy (24 per cent), science and technology (10 per cent) and hospitality and tourism (6 per cent). While monthly changes can be more volatile than annual changes, this does show that the hiring landscape always has bright spots.
Discover the workplaces that shine the most with our list of the top employers in New Zealand.
What jobs can help you get a New Zealand visa?
Like various other countries, New Zealand has a list of jobs that can give you an advantage when it comes to getting a visa. Known as the Green List, this links to the Straight to Residence Visa and Work to Residence Visa. Both enable you to stay in the country indefinitely, but the one you receive will depend on your job role.
The Straight to Residence Visa is available to people who work or have an offer to work in a Tier 1 role. There are 170 of these on the Green List, representing some of the most in-demand jobs in New Zealand. These include:
- Anaesthetist
- Dentist
- Engineer
- Food technologist
- General practitioner
- Midwife
- Nurse
- Paramedic
- Pharmacist
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist
- Secondary school teacher
- Software programmer
- Surveyor
- Veterinarian
The Work to Residence Visa is available to people who have worked in a Tier 2 role in New Zealand for at least 24 months, and will do so full-time for at least another 12 months. There are 35 of these on the Green List, including:
- Construction supervisor
- Electrician
- Gas fitter
- Mechanic
- Plumber
- Primary school teacher
It is important to note that each role appears on the list with its own additional requirements. These can include qualifications, work experience, industry accreditation and pay. Any job you have or are offered must pay in excess of the median hourly wage (NZD 31.61). For a few roles on the list, the minimum pay threshold is higher.
The Green List also has a connection to student visas in New Zealand. Partners and school-aged children of people studying for a qualification that leads to a Tier 1 or 2 role can join them in the country. For partners, this comes with full work rights. You can find out more about this in our guide to studying abroad with family.
Now that you know about New Zealand's in-demand jobs, why not keep exploring work in the country? Check out our tips on finding a graduate career in NZ, and how to apply for a post-study visa. If you are still at the start of your study abroad planning, our simple course search tool can also move you in the right direction.
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