Electricians, surveyors and engineers top SEEK’s most in-demand roles
Six of the 10 roles with the fastest-growing job ads on SEEK are in engineering, construction or the trades. Geotechnical engineers top the list, with job ad volume up 137.5%.
SEEK compared job ad volumes on its site for June to August 2026 with the same three months of 2025. The figures measure growth in ads rather than the number of jobs, so a fast-growing role can still be a small one.
The top 10
1. Geotechnical engineer (Engineering), up 137.5%
2. Electrician (Trades and Services), up 133.3%
3. Surveyor (Construction), up 123.8%
4. Health and safety adviser (Construction), up 111.8%
5. Mechanical engineer (Engineering), up 96.6%
6. People and culture adviser (Human Resources and Recruitment), up 76.5%
7. Site engineer (Engineering), up 75%
8. Support engineer (Information and Communication Technology), up 73.3%
9. Platform engineer (Information and Communication Technology), up 72%
10. Digital marketing specialist (Marketing and Communications), up 68.4%
Infrastructure and electricity
Dr Blair Chapman, SEEK’s chief economist, says “New Zealand’s infrastructure pipeline is helping drive demand for engineering, construction and trades workers”.
He points to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s forecast that infrastructure spending will keep growing year on year over the next five years. Chapman says major transport, water and other infrastructure projects are creating demand for
geotechnical engineers, surveyors, site engineers, health and safety advisers and electricians.
Electricians have a second driver. Chapman says a growing focus on electricity in the national energy system is helping to support demand for them.
Where tech fits
Two information and communication technology roles also made the list. Support engineer ads are up 73.3% and platform engineer ads 72%.
Chapman links that to businesses’ growing use of AI and other digital tools. Both roles help businesses build, run and maintain their technology systems.
The other two roles on the list sit outside both groups. People and culture advisers are up 76.5% and digital marketing specialists 68.4%.
SEEK describes the list as a look at where demand is growing towards the end of the year, and at what it could mean for jobseekers heading into 2027.
