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Ageing plumbers, thin apprenticeships: what New Zealand's trade gap could mean for skilled workers in Uganda

News · 2026-08-31 · 4 min read

Behind every working tap, drain and gas line is a licensed tradesperson, and New Zealand does not have enough of them coming through. The country is expected to need roughly 1,450 plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying roles filled over the next year. That is partly a training problem and partly a migration one, and it is relevant to skilled plumbers in Kampala, Entebbe and beyond.

Where the pipeline breaks

Fewer than one in five plumbing businesses currently take on apprentices. In construction more broadly the figure can be as low as 10-15 percent. Apprentice numbers dropped again this year after a steep fall the year before, since smaller firms found it difficult during the recession to carry trainees through their unproductive early months.

The payback is slow. Often it takes five years before a business sees a return, which explains why apprenticeships are cut early in a downturn and rebuilt late.

Where the trained people go

The more striking trend is that newly certified plumbers are not leaving the workforce. They are crossing the Tasman. Pay in Australia can nearly double what they earned at home, with moves from around NZ$30 an hour to AU$55 not unusual, and some estimates from recent trade cohorts suggest close to half of a graduating class may go soon after qualifying.

It is a pattern in which a developed economy trains skilled workers and then loses them to a neighbour offering better pay. Such gaps are exactly what migration pathways are designed to address, from both sides.

Age and retirement

The average certifying plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer in New Zealand is 49 years old. Industry figures suggest around 1,000 tradespeople on the tools are already past 65. Because these trades protect drinking water safety, sanitation and gas supply, the stakes stretch well beyond building schedules.

Untapped talent

Women make up under one percent of the licensed workforce, despite steady interest, and training providers cite inconsistent course availability, tutor shortages and ageing equipment. Experienced voices in the industry argue for opening the door to more people at home and for skilled migration.

A trade with consequences

It helps to remember why these jobs are licensed at all. Safe drinking water, working sanitation and gas supply depend on competent installation. A mistake in a gas line or a drain is not just an inconvenience, and employers and regulators know it. That is the reason overseas workers are asked to show their skills clearly and why advice on the right route matters more here than in many other fields.

Your next steps from Uganda

• Keep expectations grounded. The Australian pay numbers refer to New Zealand-trained plumbers who move, not to new arrivals.
• Check what licensing a New Zealand plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying role needs. A DIT certificate or UNEB result never automatically equals a New Zealand licence, skills assessment or registration.
• Prepare proof of work: references, certificates and a clear list of installations you have handled. Request an Interpol police clearance only if an application asks for one.
• Take advice from a licensed immigration adviser, or someone lawfully exempt, before paying fees to anyone.

Common mistakes tradespeople make

People often treat a shortage as a firm offer or send a bare list of job titles. A better application describes tasks, standards and training in plain English. A verified Talent Tabloid profile can help employers check your experience, although it is optional and never required, and a CV prepared with Build AI CV can carry the detail.

Frequently asked questions

Why is New Zealand short of plumbers?

Few apprentices are being trained, many tradespeople are near retirement, and some newly qualified plumbers move to Australia.

How old is the average certifying tradesperson?

49 years old.

What is the pay gap?

Some plumbers move from around NZ$30 an hour to AU$55, though that applies to New Zealand-trained people relocating.

Do these trades need a licence?

The workforce is described as licensed, so find out what applies to your role.

What else can I read?

Try the tradies by 2035 article and our trades pathway guide, or the New Zealand section.

Key takeaways

• Roughly 1,450 plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying roles need filling in the coming year.
• Apprentice intake is low, and the average certifying tradesperson is 49.
• Around 1,000 tradespeople are past 65.
• Pay figures relate to New Zealand-trained workers who relocate.
• Check licensing and use a licensed immigration adviser.

#plumbers #skilled migration #new zealand #apprenticeships #uganda