Construction boom helps build bridges home

Increasing employment opportunities in the construction industry are drawing Kiwi tradies back from across the ditch

Returning Kiwi construction workers, attracted by more job opportunities in New Zealand, are helping to fill the industry’s labour shortage, according to Statistics NZ.

In the year to June, NZ-wide employment figures increased by 3.7% to 2,328,000, compared to the same period last year. Construction and the wholesale trade industry were the main contributors to the increase, employing 26,900 (up 17%) and 16,800 (up 20%) workers respectively in the year to June.

The latest permanent and long-term migration figures show an increasing number of Kiwi construction workers coming back from Australia, as the mining boom wanes. In the year to June 2011, 387 NZ citizens working in construction* arrived from Australia, compared to 1,885 departing to Australia – a net loss of 1,498.

This trend has changed significantly in the last three years. In the year to June 2014, 680 NZ citizens working in construction arrived from Australia, compared to 905 departing to Australia – a net loss of 225.

The same is true for arrivals from other countries, with an increasing number of migrant workers taking advantage of job opportunities in the construction industry. In the year to June 2011, 1,034 non-NZ construction workers arrived in New Zealand, compared to 2,403 in the year to June 2014.

Auckland and Canterbury lead employment growth

Employment growth in Canterbury accounted for 45% of the total increase, as the Christchurch rebuild continues to gain momentum. Since the June 2013 quarter, 10,300 more people have been employed in the region’s construction industry. In Auckland, for the same period, employment in the construction industry increased 12.8%.

In the year to the June 2014 quarter, salary and wage rate growth (including overtime) in the Canterbury construction industry increased 3.0%. For the rest of New Zealand, wage rate growth in the construction industry rose 1.9% in the year to the June 2014 quarter.

*Occupation categories are recorded by Statistics NZ. The following were selected for the definition of a construction worker: bricklayers, carpenters and joiners; floor finishers and painting trades workers; glaziers; plasterers and tilers; plumbers; electricians; construction and mining labourers.