Executive Summary
This update from Skills Group, provides insight into current workforce trends across the electrical sector. While building work has slowed, demand for qualified electricians remains strong as electricity becomes more important across all aspects of daily life. This briefing looks at apprenticeship numbers, where the work is heading, and what’s driving demand for electrical skills.
What This Chart Shows: This chart tracks Skills Group’s apprentice numbers and shows something important – despite the building slowdown, apprentice numbers have remained stable. Starting with 3,389 apprentices, we’ve had 366 new sign-ups, with 207 completing their training, 141 leaving before completion, and 44 put on hold – leaving us with 3,363 at the end of the period (down less than 1%).
Industry Numbers from TEC
- Level 4 electrical programme learners across all providers: 6,126 (down from 8,134 in 2024)
- Skills Group has 3,659 of these learners (60%)
- Level 3 pre-trade programme learners industry-wide: 1,929 (down from 2,477 in 2024)
- Companies working with group schemes are taking on apprentices at more than double the rate (39.3%) of companies going it alone (18.2%)
Highbrook Skills Hub Opening
Skills Group proudly opened its third purpose-built campus in Highbrook, a state-of-the-art electrical training facility celebrated with industry leaders, students, and Minister Erica Stanford, marking a major step in our commitment to growing New Zealand’s skilled trades workforce.
What’s Happening Around the Country
- Christchurch is showing good growth with 65 new sign-ups
- Auckland still has the most apprentices despite the slowdown
- Southern region is keeping more apprentices in training than the northern areas
Where the Work is Going
While residential building has slowed, several other areas are creating solid work for electricians:
Government Projects Coming Online:
- Faster consenting for major projects through RMA changes
- $22 billion for 17 major road projects across the country
- Water infrastructure upgrades creating work nationwide
- All these projects need qualified electricians from start to finish
Growing Work Areas:
- Solar and battery installations for homes and businesses
- EV charger installation and maintenance
- Building automation and smart systems
- Power grid upgrades and microgrids
- Data centres and network infrastructure
These areas are creating steady work even while house building catches its breath.
What’s Happening Around the Country
- Christchurch is showing good growth with 65 new sign-ups
- Auckland still has the most apprentices despite the slowdown
- Southern region is keeping more apprentices in training than the northern areas
New Training for Growth Areas
Skills Group has just launched three new programmes on renewable energy systems. These courses meet the EWRB qualification requirements for Registration with a Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement (covering grid-connected solar and battery installations) and are endorsed by the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ). Each course includes both theory and hands-on practical training, giving electricians the skills needed to work in the growing solar and battery storage market.
Looking Ahead
While the construction forecast shows a continued slowdown through 2025, the demand for electrical work looks solid for several reasons:
- More renewable energy means more electrical work
- More cars, heating and industry all moving to electric power
- Power grid needs upgrading to handle new demands
- Nearly every building system now involves electronics and controls
The electrical trade sits at the centre of these changes. As we work through this cycle, qualified electricians will remain essential to New Zealand’s infrastructure, economy, and shift to cleaner energy.
