Best places to work in New Zealand

This map is designed to help you find the best place to work for a while to help fund your New Zealand trip.

You may think that looking for work in the biggest city is your best bet, but not necessarily. You will have to compete with way more people to get a job in Auckland than in Queenstown, for example.

Click on the map below to browse each New Zealand area:

New Zealand

Nationwide

Work statistics

64%Employment rate 6.60%Unemployment rate

Regions

Northland
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Gisborne
Hawke's bay
Taranaki
Manawatu-Wananui
Wellington
Tasman
Nelson
Marlborough
West coast
Canterburry
Otago
Southland

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Agriculture Forestry and Fishing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Accommodation and Food Services

Northland

Work statistics

57%Employment rate 9%Unemployment rate

Regions

Far North
Whangarei
Kaipara

Principal industries

Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Manufacturing
Education and Training
Accomodation and Food Services

Auckland

Work statistics

62%Employment rate 8%Unemployment rate

Regions

Auckland
Rodney
North Shore City
Waitakere
Parakura
Manakau City
Franklin

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Professional Scientific and Technical services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Education and Training

Waikato

Work statistics

64%Employment rate 6.60%Unemployment rate

Regions

Thames
Coromandel
Franklin
Waikato District
Hamilton
Otorohonga
Waitomo
Taupo
Rotorua
South Waikato
Matamata Piako
Hauraki

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Education and Training

Bay of Plenty

Work statistics

60%Employment rate 7.80%Unemployment rate

Regions

Western BOP
Tauranga
Kawerau
Opotiki
Whakafane
Roturua
Taupo

Principal industries

Health Care and Social Assistance
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Education and Training
Agriculture Foresty and Fishing

Gisborne

Work statistics

62%Employment rate 7.60%Unemployment rate

Regions

Gisborne
Central valley
Aipaoa
Patutahi
Riverpoint
Mantuke

Principal industries

Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Manufacturing
Education and Training
Retail Trade

Taranaki

Work statistics

64%Employment rate 5.10%Unemployment rate

Regions

New Plymouth
Stratlord
South Taranaki

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Construction
Education and Training

Manawatu, Wanganui

Work statistics

62%Employment rate 6.80%Unemployment rate

Regions

Wanganui
Palmerston North
Horowhenua
Puapehu
Rangitikei
Manawatu
Tararua

Principal industries

Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Manufacturing
Education and Training
Public Administration and Safety

Hawke's Bay

Work statistics

62%Employment rate 7.60%Unemployment rate

Regions

Wairoa
Hastings
Napier City
Central Hawke's Bay
Rangitikei

Principal industries

Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Manufacturing
Education and Training
Retail Trade

Wellington

Work statistics

67%Employment rate 5.70%Unemployment rate

Regions

Kapiti Coast
Porirua
Wellington City
Lower Hutt
South Wairarapa
Carterton
Masterton
Upper Hutt

Principal industries

Public Administration and Safety
Professional Scientific and Technical services
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Education and Training

Tasman, Nelson

Work statistics

65%Employment rate 4.20%Unemployment rate

Regions

Motueka
Kaiteriteri
Karamea
Golden bay
Nelson

Principal industries

Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Accomodation and Food Services
Health Care and Social Assistance

Marlborough

Work statistics

65%Employment rate 4.20%Unemployment rate

Regions

Havelock
Piction
Renwick
Spring Creek
Blenheim
Seddon
Clarence

Principal industries

Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Accomodation and Food Services
Health Care and Social Assistance

West Coast

Work statistics

65%Employment rate 4.20%Unemployment rate

Regions

Westport
Glacier country
Greymouth
Hokitika
Haast
Okatiro

Principal industries

Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Accomodation and Food Services
Health Care and Social Assistance

Canterburry

Work statistics

66%Employment rate 5.50%Unemployment rate

Regions

Hurunui
Selwyn
Ashburton
Mackenzie
Waimakariri
Christchurch City
Timaru
Waimafe

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Education and Training
Accomodation and Food Services

Otago

Work statistics

66%Employment rate 4.50%Unemployment rate

Regions

Queenstown Lakes
Central Otago
Waitaki
Clutha
Dunedin

Principal industries

Health Care and Social Assistance
Retail Trade
Accomodation and Food Services
Education and Training
Manufacturing

Southland

Work statistics

69%Employment rate 4.70%Unemployment rate

Regions

Southland District
Gore
Invercargill
Stewart Island

Principal industries

Manufacturing
Agriculture Foresty and Fishing
Retail Trade
Health Care and Social Assistance
Accomodation and Food Services

How to use this map?

Click on a region to get the information about it.

The Percentages:

If the percentages are green you have good chance to get a job.
- Employment rate: 65% or more
- Unemployment rate: 5.5% or less
- Evaluation: Excellent job market, no problem to get a job
If the percentages are orange, look at the principal industries and see if you are interested by those jobs.
- Employment rate: Between 55% and 65%
- Unemployment rate: Betwee 5.5% and 10%
- Evaluation: Good market, entry level job easy to get
If the percentages are red, it will be hard to get a job, consider another region.
- Employment rate: 55% or lower
- Unemployment rate: 10% or higher
- Evaluation: Hard job market, qualifications required

The Area list the different part of the region that you clicked on.

The Principal industries states which are the industries that employ the most people in the region.

If you have any questions, use our contact page.