Work guide
Start with live openings in New Zealand, then check pay, recognition, and real hiring chances for trades.
Country
New Zealand
Role type
Trades
Hiring now
New Zealand has been actively adjusting Green List and AEWV-recognised occupations, including trade-relevant pathways, so this is an area worth checking regularly.
Quick verdict
Potentially a very strong option, but only when the exact trade is checked against the current role lists and pathway requirements.
Salary and thresholds
Read pay requirements role by role. Some trade pathways depend on exact wage and occupation conditions.
Last reviewed
May 2026
Country
Role
Last reviewed
Jump straight to
Open jobs to check now
SEEK NZ • New Zealand
Live electrical trade openings across New Zealand.
Open current listings
SEEK NZ • New Zealand
Current welding openings across industrial and project employers.
Open current listings
SEEK NZ • New Zealand
Live plumbing openings with current employer demand.
Open current listings
Check these before you apply
Salary
Read pay requirements role by role. Some trade pathways depend on exact wage and occupation conditions.
Licensing / recognition
Some trades will need stronger evidence of equivalence, qualification, or work history than applicants expect.
Check if the trade is on the Green List and whether it is Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Check if the trade is one of the occupations recognised for AEWV under the new occupation system.
Verify pay and work-duration conditions before assuming the residence option is strong.
Best options to check first
Green List Work to Residence where the trade is explicitly covered.
AEWV where the employer path is recognised and the occupation sits on the right list.
Skilled-residence planning later if the first entry route is work-based rather than direct residence.
Official sources
Recommended order
Check the exact trade on the Green List first.
Then check AEWV-recognised occupation status.
Only after that should you choose between direct work entry and residence planning.
This guide works best for
Electricians, welders, fitters, and other practical workers who can match their exact trade to the live Green List or AEWV occupation wording.
Candidates who understand that the trade itself is not enough; wage conditions, role tier, and employer status still shape the long-term outcome.
Applicants prepared to monitor official list changes because New Zealand has been actively reshaping these trade pathways.
What usually derails the plan
Treating “trades in New Zealand” as one unified path when the real outcome depends on the exact occupation and whether it still sits on the live official lists.
Choosing a residence narrative before checking whether the first realistic entry route is actually AEWV-based work.
Skipping pay-condition checks and then overestimating how quickly the trade can lead to a stronger residence option.
What people usually miss
New Zealand can be stronger for specific trades than many candidates realize, but the route only works when the exact trade still appears on the live official lists.
This is not a set-and-forget page; the exact list still matters.
Useful searches to run next
green list electrician new zealand
AEWV welder occupation new zealand
new zealand trades work to residence wage threshold
Same role, cross-country read
Before you open three more guides, scan how this same role reads across countries on demand, pay, and recognition friction.
New Zealand
Current guidePotentially a very strong option, but only when the exact trade is checked against the current role lists and pathway requirements.
Demand
New Zealand has been actively adjusting Green List and AEWV-recognised occupations, including trade-relevant pathways, so this is an area worth checking regularly.
Pay / threshold
Read pay requirements role by role. Some trade pathways depend on exact wage and occupation conditions.
Recognition
Some trades will need stronger evidence of equivalence, qualification, or work history than applicants expect.
Canada
One of the strongest options when the trade is clearly recognized, the certification path is understood, and the province choice is realistic.
Demand
Canada still treats many trades as highly important through construction, housing, infrastructure, and practical labour-market pressure.
Pay / threshold
Use Job Bank and apprenticeship/certification sources by province. Trade wages and certification expectations vary meaningfully across Canada.
Recognition
Some trades can move faster than healthcare, but Red Seal, apprenticeship equivalency, or province-specific certification can still be decisive.
Australia
A very strong option when the exact trade matches current shortage demand and the migration pathway is clear.
Demand
Jobs and Skills Australia continues to show shortage pressure across many technician and trades-worker occupations, which keeps trades central to Australia’s real labour-market path.
Pay / threshold
Check role-by-role wages and region, not a generic trade benchmark. Mining, construction, electrical, and heavy-vehicle work can differ sharply.
Recognition
Trades often need competency evidence, licensing, or a recognised assessment path before the move becomes realistic.
Ireland
A mixed picture. It can work in specific cases, but it is not a broadly easy option.
Demand
Ireland’s strongest permit path is still more concentrated in highly skilled roles, so trades need a much more occupation-by-occupation reading.
Pay / threshold
Check permit thresholds and actual employer offers carefully. This is not a market where a generic trade background automatically converts into a work route.
Recognition
Some practical occupations may face employer, qualification, or recognition friction even when the work itself is clearly needed.