Finding a job in Auckland
Being New Zealand's biggest city means that Auckland has the most opportunities for employment but also the most competition. Finding a job in Auckland can take a while, depending on where your skills lie. Here are some things you can do to get ahead in the job market.
Job vacancies in Auckland
If you already work for an international company, there is a chance that it will have an office in Auckland, so one option is to see if there are any options for a transfer. Plenty of Auckland's business people travel a lot for international networking events, which might be a good way to make some contacts, or maybe your company will send you to the city for an Auckland-based event.
However, for most of us, getting a job in Auckland is not as simple as just transferring or networking. Landing yourself a role in Auckland may take some time and dedication. A great place to start is local and international job-search websites. Seek is perhaps the most widely used website, although Trade Me is also a good resource. Recruitment agencies like Adecco, Beyond Recruitment, OneStaff, or Coverstaff can be very helpful and are skilled at matching qualified candidates with employers. You can go with a general recruiter or find one that specializes in your area of skill.
Many larger companies will have career listings on their websites, so you can find out who the major players are in an industry and find their careers page. If you are more inclined toward the public sector, the Auckland Council is always posting job listings on its own careers website.
If you are looking for work in hospitality or a smaller retail store, you can quite often find posters around establishments. Word of mouth is also an invaluable option when it comes to Auckland – as they say, it's often who you know that counts.
Auckland's labor market
As New Zealand's biggest city, there are plenty of businesses in Auckland looking for workers. However, we recommend getting familiar with the employment landscape in Auckland before you begin your search for work on the ground. Like many countries, New Zealand is experiencing labor shortages following the Covid-19 pandemic, and Auckland has also been affected. For a list of those industries most urgently needing workers, expats should consult New Zealand's Green List (a list of in-demand roles that offer a fast track to residency). With over 100 roles listed, your own field may be one that is in particular need of overseas labor.
The fields most impacted by the pandemic are:
- Healthcare: The pandemic put a spotlight on the demand for medical professionals, and Auckland is no exception. Nurses, doctors, and others in healthcare are needed now more than ever.
- Information Technology: The digital world is booming, and Auckland's tech scene is hungry for skilled workers in software development, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
- Construction: With a housing and infrastructure boom underway in Auckland, tradespeople like builders, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers are nearly always in high demand in New Zealand.
- Hospitality: After a tough couple of years, Auckland's restaurants, bars, and cafes are bouncing back and looking for chefs, waiters, and baristas to join their teams. Many businesses will have “help wanted” signs in their windows and will accept CVs handed in over the counter.
- Education: Auckland has a thriving education sector, but the pandemic created a greater need for teachers, tutors, and support staff. If you have a passion for teaching, there are opportunities waiting for you.
Of course, even if your role doesn't appear on the Green List, there is still a good chance your particular skills and experience will be valuable in New Zealand. It might be worth setting a search alert for vacancies in your field on websites like Seek or TradeMe so that you get an alert when something shows up. Although having a job offer is not necessary for many visa options in New Zealand, it is always helpful to have a job waiting for you – and it makes moving much less stressful if one thing is already taken care of.
Auckland's economy
Auckland, the city that almost a quarter of Kiwis call home, is the commercial center of New Zealand. In 2022, its GDP rose to over NZ$137 billion, making up more than a third of the entire country's GDP.
When it comes to the most profitable sectors, professional, scientific, and technical services lead the pack, contributing 10.9% of Auckland's total GDP. Following close behind are financial and insurance services (8.9%) and manufacturing (8.6%). Other sectors like construction and engineering, film, television and other creative industries, and education are also top earners.
The CBD is where you'll find the country's financial services as well as some of Auckland's busiest shopping, dining and entertainment precincts. The CBD also contains a major port and a high-end waterfront area. But don't worry; you don't need to be a city slicker to find work in Auckland. The North Shore's Albany and Takapuna, South Auckland's Manukau, and pockets of Greater Central and West Auckland all have industrial and commercial areas that provide jobs for everyone from maverick entrepreneurs to blue-collar workers.
Starting a business in Auckland
Starting a business in Auckland can also be a great opportunity for expats, especially if you notice a niche to exploit! Auckland offers a strong support network for entrepreneurs, including access to funding and business incubators. Of course, being able to start a business depends on your visa status, but if you have the ability to do so, Auckland is an excellent place to test the waters compared to some of New Zealand's less populous cities. With a big, multicultural population providing a wealth of potential customers and business partners, Auckland can be a great starting point for entrepreneurial expats.
Unemployment in Auckland
The unemployment rate for the city is on par with the national rate at around 3.3% (this number reached an all-time low in 2021, at 3.2%). Though this is a pretty low number, sadly, it doesn't mean the job market is not competitive; competition all depends on the sector that you're looking for work in. Because many of the industries in New Zealand are small, some positions will have dozens of applicants. Ensuring that your application is well-written and accurate will make sure that you stand out amongst the noise.
Wages and salary expectations in Auckland
In general, income levels are a little lower than you might expect from a major city due to New Zealand's limited size. The minimum wage in New Zealand is currently NZ$22.70 per hour. The current “living wage” has been calculated as NZ$23.65. The average yearly income is around NZ$71,000 in Auckland, but this is hugely dependent on your area of expertise. Researching your field in advance and talking to people actively employed in your field will help you get a solid idea of what to expect when moving to Auckland.
In terms of salary expectations for expats in Auckland, there are no easy answers, as it's all about the specific industry, job position, and your experience level. Unfortunately, New Zealand isn't generally known as somewhere with super high wages, at least compared with the United States and Western Europe. However, if you are coming from other regions, including the Asia-Pacific, South America, and Eastern Europe, the wages may well be higher.
What are the average annual salaries for some jobs in Auckland? Below is some data sourced from Payscale to give a broad idea of what to expect:
- Operations Manager -NZ$60,000 - NZ$130,000
- Project Manager - NZ$64,000 - NZ$134,000
- Software Developer - NZ$53,000 - NZ$100,000
- Account Manager - NZ$50,000 - NZ$86,000
- Civil Engineer NZ$56,000 - NZ$102,000
- Accountant - NZ$48,000 - NZ$85,000
- Software Engineer - NZ$55,000 - NZ$109,000
Of course, such figures are estimates and can vary depending on the employer and industry. Before accepting a job, it's essential to establish your salary expectations and get clear information about what you'll be paid. Also, before making your big move across the world, please assess the cost of living in Auckland to make sure you have clear expectations about what kind of salary you'll need to live comfortably.
The job application and interview process in Auckland
Overall, it's unlikely the application and interview process in Auckland will differ hugely from what you might expect in other places. However, it's always good to be as prepared as possible. We've put together some basic points to help you prepare for the application.
Nearly every employer in Auckland will expect a CV (resume) and a cover letter. Try to keep your CV short and punchy, no more than two pages, and easy to read. Often employers will have dozens of CVs to look through, and having what makes you right for the job easy to find at a glance will give you an edge. If you speak a language other than English, be sure to highlight it, as Auckland's cosmopolitan and international nature can make you stand out. A cover letter should be specific to the role and company, explaining what you will add to their business. Aim for 200-300 words (although you can go longer for more complex roles). In the letter, try to connect the company's goals to yourself and explain how excited you are to work for the company.
Another thing that will give your application an edge is tailoring it to the job listing rather than just sending in the same boilerplate version again and again. The best way to do this is to make sure language and terms from the job listing are present in the CV and cover letter. To get more insight into the company and its values, it's good to research the company and the role before your interview. This can help with preparing your CV and formulating answers to questions but will also help you determine if the company will suit you. You can usually find some helpful information on the company's website, and if it's a large employer, it may have reviews on Glassdoor. Seeking current or former employees to talk to may also be an option.
In New Zealand, most job applications are made online, either through the company's website or through job listing websites like TradeMe or Seek. When you're putting together your CV and cover letter, keep it concise and highlight your skills. Bullet points are a great way to make your skills stand out. One exception is cafes, hotels, restaurants and other service-based businesses that might advertise their vacant positions in the window; sometimes, they will have physical copies of application forms at the counter and will be happy to take a printed-out copy of your CV.
Be sure to have someone proofread your CV and cover letter before you submit it, as there is nothing worse than having no luck for months before you realize that you are selling yourself as having great attention to ‘detale' instead of “detail”. Auckland's competitive job market means that it's often the small things that count.
Once you land yourself an interview, make sure to dress well and be prepared to talk. You are expected to wear formal clothing, but unless you are going for an executive position, you won't be expected to wear a full suit.
Aucklanders like to work with people who are personable and friendly, so being cheerful and outgoing will help with your chances of success. Before you head into the interview, have some key points that you would like to make about yourself and why you would suit the job, as well as a couple of questions that you can ask of them to show that you have put some thought into the role.
Good to know:
One thing to keep in mind is that your interviewers might not be familiar with a workplace, company, or event that is well-known in your own country. So make sure to include some context in your CV and cover letter that might be useful for an international employer.
