New Zealand Needs Front Line Tradespeople

Are your skills in high demand? You might be pleasantly surprised.

For many years, New Zealand has been screaming out for front line tradespeople. Still in 2020, demand is as strong as ever.

What do I mean by “front line” and what do I mean by “trades”?

• “Tradespeople” are qualified, typically signed off after 4 years of apprenticeship where they carry out both practical and theoretical studies on the job.
• “Front Line” workers are those who work on the tools, on the machines with their hands, finishing projects. It is OK to be a manager or supervisor but the critical issue is to have experience with hands getting mechanical or electrical or welding or building projects done with tools in hand. If you can do that, you are able to do “front line” work.

Which Front Line Trades have the most in demand?
* Diesel mechanics
* Auto Mechanics
* Aeronautical mechanics
* Marine mechanics
* (yes, all types of other mechanics)
* Commercial electricians
* Residential electricians
* Industrial electricians
* (yes, all types of electricians)
* Fitters & Turners
* Boilermakers
* Millwrights
* Machinists
* Welders / fabricators
* Carpenters
* Drain layers / Plumbers
* Riggers / Scaffolders
* Cabinet makers
* Butchers
* high-end Chefs
* exceptionally trained police
* Etc.

These people are often found in workshops, factories, construction yards, other types of production facilities.

Are Tradespeople most in demand? No. So what other skills does New Zealand want?

Besides the above-mentioned trades, many you know that NZ also needs all sorts of Engineers and all sorts of Teachers. Those two groups deserve their own huge lists.

And let’s not forget those exceptionally skilled salespeople, IT Gurus, General Managers, Directors, CFOs, Chartered Accountants, Project Managers, Logistics and HR professionals. For all middle and upper management people, the skill sets will need to be exceptionally high to be seriously considered as a foreign hire by most NZ employers.

Can it be said in another way? How to middle managers and top managers get work in NZ?

To say another way, if you have exceptional skills and measurable achievements that set you apart from others in your job sector and if you also have a relevant university degree, you may have a demand for your skills in New Zealand, even if you don’t appear on the “Long Term Shortage List”.

Keep in mind that the official NZ job shortage lists are useful for immigration purposes but not so much for job seekers. The list does not accurately reflect the reality of local demand. So don’t worry if your job title is not on a skills shortage list. As a government list, it pretty good, but it is still a government list. https://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz/

Do you have to be either highly qualified or educated in order to get work as a foreigner in New Zealand? Skilled but not qualified tradespersons can still get work in New Zealand:

• Mechanics who aren’t trade qualified but can fix anything – this can work.
• Skilled builders on commercial / residential sites, even without a trade qualification, can get work.
• I have seen it work also for hospitality managers

Mostly, it is true, the NZ business community and NZ immigration authorities have a bias towards qualified and skilled workers. However, there are notable exceptions.

What are the action points?

If you see your skill set and experiences represented up there, please get my attention with your CV. In return, I will respond to your CV with a general assessment in about a day or two, depending on workload.

Just send your CV with any comments you like to make about your status to Tate@employmentforimmigration.nz I will respond as soon as I can, a day or two usually.