Truck drivers in top three fastest‑growing jobs in New Zealand

News Transport & logistics

April 28 2026

Truck drivers are among the fastest‑growing jobs in New Zealand according to new data from SEEK.

The latest report from SEEK shows job advertisements for truck drivers increased by 126.1 percent year on year, ranking the role third overall for growth nationwide.

Trades and transport feature prominently throughout the fastest‑growing roles. Additional trades‑related positions ranked in the top 20 include HIAB crane operators (8th), machine operators (10th), production supervisors (12th), excavator operators (14th), and construction project managers (20th).

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Free micro-credential

For those looking to enter the road transport industry, MITO offers the Introduction to Commercial Road Transport Micro‑credential, a free, NZQA‑approved programme that provides a practical starting point for a career in transport and logistics.

The micro‑credential is designed for people who have left secondary school, including entry‑level driver roles. Learners gain foundational knowledge of how the commercial road transport industry operates, including key vehicle and freight documentation, basic vehicle systems, and professional driver skills such as customer service.

Training is completed online through MITO’s eLearning platform, allowing learners to study at their own pace and access resources such as videos, interactive simulations and assessments from any device.

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Get qualified with MITO

Once employed in the transport and logistics industries, the Road to Success programme provides and promotes a tertiary qualification pathway for new and experienced truck drivers.

Road to Success is supported by Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand, National Road Carriers, and New Zealand Trucking Association, representing transport operators nationwide. The Driver Traineeship is the industry's recognised way of training and developing new drivers. Driver Boost is for professional, experienced drivers to gain industry recognised tertiary qualifications and refresh their knowledge to improve their driving and progress their careers.

Road to Success has partnered with MITO to establish four NZQA-approved micro-credentials, which, once completed, puts class 2, 4, and 5 drivers well on the road to completing MITO's New Zealand Certificate in Commercial Road Transport (Heavy Vehicle Operator) Level 3.