New Zealand Is Hiring: Where Jobs Are Growing for Overseas Workers Right Now

News · 2026-08-28 · 4 min read

Thinking about New Zealand as your next work destination? Whether you are a nurse in the Middle East, a caregiver back home in the Philippines, or a tradesperson looking for your next step, the latest jobs report from Stats NZ can help you decide where to focus your search. It shows not only how many jobs there are, but also which industries, places and age groups are growing the most.

A quick look at the headline figures

Stats NZ's newest employment indicators show about 18,000 more filled jobs over the year to July, bringing the country's total to 2.34 million. Looking month to month on a seasonally adjusted basis, employers added another 7,746 roles between June and July, a rise of 0.3%. Those totals are encouraging, but the details below are what really help with planning.

Good news for carers and health workers

Healthcare and social assistance led all industries, adding 6,581 jobs over the year, an increase of 2.3%. No other sector created more new employment. If your background is in nursing, aged care, allied health or support work, areas where many overseas workers already have strong experience, this is one of the most encouraging signs in the whole report.

Other industries adding roles

Public administration and safety: up 6,418 jobs (4%).
Education and training: up 2,630 roles (1.2%).
Construction: up 1,810 jobs (0.9%), worth noting for tradespeople, since this sector closely follows spending on homes and infrastructure.

One area moved the other way. Professional, scientific and technical services, which covers much of New Zealand's office-based and tech-related work, lost 2,078 jobs (1.1%). If you are planning to move for a consulting, IT or scientific-services role, keep this slower patch in mind while hiring in health and government keeps climbing.

Regions to keep on your radar

Where you settle can matter as much as what you do. Canterbury topped the list with 6,824 extra jobs over the year (2.2%), a sign that the Christchurch economy is still growing strongly beyond the rebuild years. Auckland gained 4,427 jobs and Waikato 3,330, while Otago added 1,710.

Northland went the other direction, losing 1,526 jobs. That 2.1% fall was the sharpest drop among the regions Stats NZ highlighted. So if you are choosing where to live, the South Island and the central North Island are currently doing better than the north.

Who employers are taking on

The figures also show which workers gained the most. Women made up most of the yearly growth, with 7,959 more roles (0.7%), compared with 3,819 (0.3%) for men. Workers aged 65 and over did especially well: their employment rose 4.1%, or 5,407 jobs. That is helpful to know if you are moving later in your career or hope to keep working past the usual retirement age. In raw numbers, the 35-to-39 age group grew the most, up 9,030 jobs (3.2%), while people aged 30-to-34 slipped back, down 5,180 jobs (1.8%).

Paycheques are rising as well

Earnings are going up, too. Total gross earnings across New Zealand reached $16.5 billion in July, up $607 million (3.8%) compared with a year earlier. Employers are paying more, not only hiring more, which is useful if you are planning your budget and the money you hope to send home to family.

Putting it all together

Taken as a whole, the data shows a clear pattern. Healthcare, public administration, education and construction are moving ahead, and Canterbury and Waikato are growing faster than most of the country. Women and older workers are enjoying stronger gains. Meanwhile, professional and technical services, Northland, and workers in their early thirties are facing a tougher market. Keep in mind that Stats NZ treats these numbers as provisional for three months while payday filing data is still coming in, so treat them as a good first indication, not the final answer.

For anyone planning a move, this is a helpful place to start. Match your skills with a growing industry, look closely at the regions with momentum, and prepare your documents early. With the right focus, you give yourself the best chance of finding work quickly. Kaya mo 'yan!

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