Construction skills needed in NZ earthquake-hit city

Quantity surveyors, residential project managers and senior commercial project managers top the list of skills in demand in Christchurch’s construction market, Hays said. Civil machine operators with drainage and roading experience, and project managers with drainage and roading experience were also in high demand.

“Demand is so high that skilled professionals are offered jobs within 48 hours of attending interviews,” Hays said. And a shortage of New Zealand candidates meant that companies were looking to recruit from overseas, in particular the UK, to fill the skills gap, the firm said.

“Construction companies are entering the Christchurch market and vacancy activity only continues to rise,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. 

“Christchurch really is our stand-out in what is fast becoming a two-speed economy in New Zealand, and civil construction is leading the charge.

“This huge demand for skills has been fuelled by ongoing roading and drainage repairs, the ultra fast broadband roll-out and the increase in insurance related residential rebuild work, which is now gaining momentum.

“We expect new job creation to continue off the back of the vast amount of insurance related rebuilding and repair work that is taking place. Several companies are also setting up in the region and require new staff to help establish their local presence,” Walker said.