New Zealand Skills Shortage List: Top 30 High-paying Professions in Demand

New Zealand Skills Shortage List: Top 30 High-paying Professions in Demand

New Zealand’s skills shortage list is a good resource for those who are looking to find out about the professions that need more people in order to be successful.

The NZ skills shortage list can help you identify what your options are and which profession would suit you best. It also helps with planning ahead so that you can start preparing for these professions, even if it takes time before they become available.

The skills shortage list has been around since 2010 and it’s up-to-date with the latest skilled jobs in New Zealand.

Skills shortage list: skills in demand in New Zealand

There are several professions on this list, and some of them include engineering, construction trade workers, healthcare professionals like nurses or midwives, accountants etcetera.

1) Construction Project Manager

When you are a Construction Project Manager, it is your job to organize and manage the construction of buildings.

This includes communicating with clients about their needs as well as drawing up plans for structures that need to be built or repaired.

The skills shortage list states that this profession has been in high demand since 2010 because there aren’t enough professionals in the field to work on projects.

Requirements: Degree in Construction Management or Building Design, and a minimum of five years experience as an engineer with construction companies in New Zealand or offshore.

Construction Project Manager In this position you are responsible for organizing designs for structures that need to be built or repaired. You will also communicate with clients about their needs.

2) Site Foreman

Site foreman is another profession on the skills shortage list. You will be in charge of overseeing projects and making sure that all work is completed according to code.

Requirements: Degree, five years experience as a foreman or site supervisor, minimum of two years managerial experience within the construction industry.

3) Project Managers

Project managers are in charge of coordinating multiple projects to ensure that they run smoothly. They will also have to delegate tasks and oversee work, ensuring quality standards and safety regulations are met.

Requirements: Degree or equivalent with a minimum of three years of project management experience within the construction industry.

4) Quantity Surveyors

Quantity surveyors are responsible for estimating the cost of any project. They will need to use their skills in mathematics, engineering, and construction so you must be comfortable with these subjects.

Requirements: Degree or equivalent qualification, minimum five years experience as a quantity surveyor within the construction industry.

5) Surveyors

Next on the list are surveyors. These professionals use surveying and mapping skills to generate accurate representations of the land, construction sites, or other areas for a variety of purposes.

Requirements: Degree in Surveying/Geomatics with a minimum of three years experience as a Land Surveyor within the Construction Industry

6) Chemical Engineers

For chemical engineers, it will be important to have in-depth knowledge of chemistry and physics. You will also need skills in mathematics, process control, and analytical techniques as well as the ability to work with people from all levels of an organization or society.

Requirements: Degree in Chemical Engineering (with a major) or Bachelor’s degree plus four years work experience as a Chemical Engineer (with a major).

7) Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers are responsible for improving the natural environment. They do this through a variety of tasks like researching and investigating different environmental problems, designing processes to solve these issues or monitoring changes in the environment.

Requirements: Degree in Environmental Engineering (with a major) or Bachelor’s degree plus four years work experience as a Chemical Engineer (with a major ).

8) Civil Engineers

Civil engineers work in the design, construction, and maintenance of structures that are vital for everyday life. They might build dams or bridges, plan out transportation systems like public transit routes, or help develop plans to deal with natural disasters.

Requirements: Degree in Civil Engineering (with a major) or Bachelor’s degree plus four years work experience as a Civil Engineer (with a major).

9)Structural Engineers

Structural engineers are responsible for the design and construction of buildings. They work to make sure that structures can support their own weight, as well as any external forces like earthquakes or heavy winds.

Requirements: Degree in Structural Engineering (with a major) or Bachelor’s degree plus four years work experience as a Structural Engineer (with a major)

10) Electronics Engineer

Electronics engineers focus on the design, production and use of electronic devices. They often work in research and development or engineering management positions for electronics manufacturers.

Requirements: Degree in Electronics Engineering (with a major) or Bachelor’s degree plus four years work experience as an Electronics Engineer (with a major).

11) Mechanical Engineers

Next on the shortage skills list for New Zealand are mechanical engineers. These professionals are in high demand as New Zealand builds on its reputation of being a country with skills shortage issues.

In the list, they have been ranked at number 11; This is because there are around 220 jobs available for this profession but only 40 people to do them- meaning that we need more than four times the amount of people in this sector.

Mechanical Engineers work across a range of sectors, from biomedical to manufacturing, and are experts in the design and development of products that use mechanical energy or power transmitted mechanically. They can also be responsible for developing new processes, fuels, or control systems for machinery.

12) Geotechnical Engineer

Geotechnical Engineers work with a wide range of professionals to ensure that construction sites are safe and stable. They use their skills in geology, engineering, computer modeling, and earth sciences to provide advice on soil behavior for new buildings or alterations to existing structures. This can include the design of piles, rafts, and retaining structures.

13) Industrial Engineers

Industrial Engineers use skills in engineering, mathematics, and automation technology to design machinery. This includes the production of new machines or improvements to existing ones that will improve their efficiency or quality. They also work on improving factory layouts to optimize workflow and reduce costs.

14) Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers combine medical knowledge with expertise in engineering to improve medicine. This can include working on new surgical devices, changes to medical equipment, drug delivery systems, and improving the quality of existing drugs by making them more efficient or cost-effective.

Industrial Engineers use skills in engineering, mathematics, and automation technology to design machineries such as production lines and factories.

15) Engineering Technicians

Industrial Engineers use skills in engineering, mathematics, and automation technology to design machineries such as production lines and factories.

15) Engineering Technicians are responsible for making sure that the machines they work with are functioning well. They find solutions by creating reports on malfunctions or accidents so that problems can be fixed before there is a higher chance of injury.

Engineering technicians are often required to work on a variety of projects in different industries and for various clients, depending on their skill set or industry knowledge.

16) Telecommunications Network Engineer

Telecom and Network engineers create and maintain the telecommunications systems that allow information to be passed from one place to another.

Industry experts say New Zealand is facing a skills shortage of qualified telecoms network engineers as companies struggle with new technologies such as high-speed broadband.

18) Procurement Managers

A procurement manager is responsible for purchasing goods and services to provide a company with what it needs. They may also be involved in inventory management, vendor relations, negotiations of contracts or agreements, global sourcing and supplier quality control.

19) Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologists work as therapists to help people with problems such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. A psychologist’s job can involve providing counseling, conducting research, or educating others on mental health issues.

20) Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist

This profession is a medical doctor who specializes in the use of imaging to diagnose and treat illnesses. Their tasks may include using MRI, CT scans or ultrasound technology for diagnosis as well as performing procedures such as biopsies and angioplasties.

21) General Health Practitioners

General Health Practitioners are trained to provide a range of health care services through diagnosis, treatment and referral. They work at public and private agencies that offer primary healthcare services for people with low incomes or chronic conditions such as diabetes.

22) Medical Radiation Therapist

Medical Radiation Therapists work in hospitals and clinics to make sure that the right amount of radiation is used when imaging. They use skills such as mathematics, physics, biology, English, and diagnostic imaging techniques for this purpose.

23) Cytotechnologist

Cytotechnologists study cells and tissues to detect cancer. This is done by examining cell samples under a microscope, as well as taking biopsies for examination.

24) Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians work closely with pharmacists in order to provide pharmacy services such as preparing prescriptions for patients or dispensing drugs at pharmacies.

25) Osteopath

Osteopaths are the primary care providers for patients. They diagnose and treat conditions, such as chronic back pain or headaches. The skills needed to complete this job include reading medical charts, diagnosing symptoms, and using various treatment techniques like massage and physical therapy.

26) Medical Laboratory Scientist

Medical laboratory scientists carry out a range of diagnostic, medical, and healthcare tests. They analyse blood samples as well as tissue and fluid specimens to identify diseases or problems such as diabetes or cancer.

27) Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Obstetricians and gynecologists diagnose pregnancy, perform surgery to remove the uterus or ovaries, provide prenatal care for women and treat gynecological conditions. They also advise other health professionals on the medical management of the female reproductive function.

28) Physicist (Medical)

Physicists (medical) study, diagnose and treat diseases using radiation. They work closely with medical staff to design appropriate treatments like X-rays or radioisotopes.

29) Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists help patients overcome physical disabilities. They treat conditions such as arthritis, polio, and back pain by teaching healthy movement skills or using creative approaches like acupuncture to alleviate discomfort.

30) ICT Security Specialist

ICT specialists secure the integrity of computer networks, data centers, and IT systems. They work to identify potential risks like hacking or network intrusion before they happen.

There are more professionals in the New Zealand Skills shortage list that we didn’t cover in this blog post. Check out the complete list here to see if your professional is on the list.