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New Zealand is roughly 60,000 construction workers short: what Malaysian tradespeople should check first

Visa guide · 2026-08-18 · 3 min read

If you work as an electrician, plumber, welder or carpenter, a move to New Zealand deserves a proper look. Industry estimates put the shortfall in building and construction at roughly 60,000 people, and half of that gap is made up of trades-qualified workers. This article walks Malaysian tradespeople through what is driving the demand and what to check before applying.

Where the demand comes from

Close to $60 billion is earmarked for infrastructure over the next four years. That covers highways, hospitals, schools and water systems. Major highway upgrades are underway from Cambridge to Whangarei. Hospital wards and redevelopments are progressing in Whangarei, Tauranga, Hawke's Bay, Palmerston North and Dunedin, and a new hospital is planned south of Auckland. Ten school redevelopments, new courthouses and new police stations round out the pipeline.

Housing is picking up too. New home consents rose 16% in the year to April 2026, and the country still needs to consent around 25,000 new homes each year to keep pace with population growth. Regional areas such as Northland, Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and the South Island are building as well, often with less competition for jobs.

Two residence routes on the Green List

The Green List names occupations New Zealand struggles to fill at home. It offers two fast-tracked pathways:

• Straight to Residence. For higher-skilled roles such as civil engineers and construction project managers, residence can follow almost immediately after a job offer from an accredited employer.
• Work to Residence. For hands-on trades such as electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, welders, fitters and metal fabricators. After two years working for an accredited employer at the right wage threshold, residence becomes an option.

In 2025, ten more trades joined the list, including welders, fitters, panel beaters, vehicle painters and paving plant operators. Most arriving workers begin on the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). From late August 2026, a new Skilled Migrant Category pathway aimed at trades and technicians adds another route to residence for people who have built up local experience. You can read the current rules on the Immigration New Zealand work pages.

Which body checks your trade?

A common worry for overseas tradespeople is whether their qualifications will count. New Zealand has set bodies for this, and Malaysian tradespeople holding an SKM or similar certificate should expect their qualification to be compared against New Zealand standards.

Registration is a legal requirement to work in these trades, and it can also add to a points-based visa application under the Skilled Migrant Category.

Your Malaysia-side checklist

• Gather certified copies of your trade certificates, with English translations of anything in Bahasa Malaysia.
• Request a police clearance from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) if one is asked for.
• Check whether an English test such as IELTS or PTE applies to your visa or employer.
• Confirm that any employer you speak to is accredited, and deal only with real employers and licensed organisations.

The shortage is structural, not a passing spike. For a qualified tradesperson weighing work in New Zealand from Malaysia, the real question is whether your papers are ready while demand is this strong.

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