Decline in engineering roles in New Zealand as infrastructure pipeline dries up

February 18, 2025

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Engineering New Zealand is deeply concerned about the decline in engineering roles in New Zealand as the pipeline of work all but dries up.

“Government’s halting of work on infrastructure projects has had a devastating impact on the engineering profession,” says Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer.

“Engineers across Aotearoa are struggling – with far too many losing their jobs and leaving for opportunities overseas where demand is immediate. We are worried that we will see another brain drain like what was experienced in the early 2000’s. It took years to rebuild the specialist engineering skills that were lost. It’s simple – we can’t afford to lose more engineers.”

The risk to New Zealand’s development and growth is significant. The engineering profession is critical to the delivery of our essential infrastructure and to our wider economic development. Previous governments have identified New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit as well over 100 billion, and without engineers this need cannot be met.

The loss of engineers during the current work slowdown will also exacerbate the looming long-term skills shortage.

“It is very frustrating seeing the loss of engineers in the short term, when we know that over the long-term New Zealand is facing a shortfall of about 2,300 new engineers every year. Without enough engineers we can’t build the new roads, hospitals, schools and water facilities our country so desperately needs,” says Templer.

“We know that the Government’s Fast Track Approvals regime started this month as an important step towards streamlining infrastructure work. Although this is welcome, we remain concerned about losing crucial engineering skills and workforce. By the time infrastructure work once again ramps up, our country may well find itself without the engineers it needs.”

Engineering New Zealand is calling for the Government to urgently free up funds for delivery and firm up the infrastructure pipeline.

“We have asked Ministers to include targets for infrastructure delivery in Government quarterly action plans. New Zealand cannot afford to wait – we need to get major project design and procurement underway as soon as possible. The funds for infrastructure projects need to be prioritised and released,” says Templer

“New Zealand also needs a clear, committed infrastructure pipeline that outlives each political term. Engineers need to know what is happening, and when. Otherwise, we will keep losing our engineers and will pay the price. An engineering skills crisis is evident – the time to act is now.”

This Government has high hopes for productivity and growth – but engineers are needed to help deliver major projects so that New Zealanders enjoy prosperous lives.

Latest stats on NZ’s migration

There was a provisional net migration loss of 47,100 New Zealand citizens in 2024. This compared with a net loss of 43,300 in 2023. The provisional record net loss for an annual period was 48,500 in the August 2024 year.

The net loss of New Zealand citizens in 2024 is the largest for a calendar year, and was driven by 72,000 migrant departures, which more than offset 24,900 migrant arrivals.

Based on the latest estimates available, 56 percent of migrant departures of New Zealand citizens were to Australia. Migrants aged 18 to 30 years made up 27,400 (38 percent) of the 72,000 migrant departures of New Zealand citizens in 2024.