New Zealand’s Most Searched Jobs

In an evolving job market, Kiwis are rethinking their career paths, pursuing purpose, flexibility, and financial freedom. For many, this means starting a new profession, launching a side hustle, or becoming self-employed.

This campaign uses Google search data to reveal the careers New Zealanders are most curious about, from “how to become an accountant” to “how to become a real estate agent”. By analysing the most-searched job-related queries across the country, we uncover how New Zealand’s career mindset is shifting and highlight the growing appetite for entrepreneurship and self-employment.

For QuickBooks, it’s a timely opportunity to speak directly to the people dreaming of building something new: the freelancers, sole traders, and small business starters who rely on accounting software to turn ideas into action.

Key takeaways

• The career that most Kiwis are curious about is… teaching! This was by far the most Googled profession, with 45,530 searches for phrases like “How to become a teacher in New Zealand”.
• Following ‘Teacher’, these professions made it into the top five:
• Nurse (29,400 searches)
• Real Estate Agent (21,590 searches)
• Pharmacist (14,950 searches)
• Lawyer (13,990 searches)
• Roles in the health and social care industries were also popular, with 8 of the 15 top roles belonging to this professional category.  

‘Teacher’ is New Zealand’s most searched job

This study showed that New Zealanders are most interested in teaching as a job possibility. It’s an especially interesting result in these post-pandemic times, highlighting a desire for careers that are interactive, human, and community-oriented.

More than simply a job, teaching provides the opportunity to shape future generations. Plus, for teachers in New Zealand, there’s the added bonus of reasonable class sizes, a progressive education system, and a decent work/life balance. Even better, teachers are highly in demand–meaning that there’s excellent job security. 

Sound like the job for you? Find out more about becoming a teacher, and discover software solutions for educators.

Kiwis are also curious about healthcare, real estate, and law

After teaching, there was a high volume of searches for jobs in the fields of healthcare and professional services. Again, this shows that people are interested in careers with high levels of interpersonal engagement–whether clients, patients, students, or the public. 

Let’s take a closer look: 

Nursing is undergoing a resurgence 

The QuickBooks study recorded 36,000 searches conducted by Kiwis who were interested in nursing as a career. Like teaching, nursing is grounded in service–it’s a job that’s devoted to nurturing others and strengthening the overall wellbeing of communities. 

There’s a theme that emerges from this data, and that is that people want a career that’s genuinely meaningful. Nursing professional and academic Dr Rebecca Jarden describes nursing as a “great profession” that “offers incredible opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives at every end of the spectrum, from birth to life to death.”  

Interest in real estate careers is also strong

In the study, there were 31,870 searches for careers in real estate–another service based, people oriented profession. This is another industry that attracts strong communicators who thrive on human interaction. 

Real estate agents also need to be good at problem solving under pressure, much like their teacher and nurse counterparts. It’s a career that rewards communication, adaptability, and the ability to guide people through life-changing decisions. As industry leader Karl Davis remarks, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is helping both vendors and buyers “move on to the next step in their lives.”

Many real estate agents operate as sole traders or independent contractors, and that’s where QuickBooks can help, with smart invoicing, GST tracking, and expense management tools designed for self-employed professionals.

Pharmacy is a high-interest field

There were 23,680 Google searches from New Zealanders who are interested in pharmacy as a career, which reflects a growing awareness of public health concerns. The COVID-19 pandemic elevated the visibility of pharmacists as front-line health professionals, and in New Zealand they were instrumental in providing accessible health advice and vaccine rollout. More recently, pharmacists have been playing an important part in supporting community-based care. 

Pharmacists also typically enjoy clear career pathways, and the opportunity to work in retail, hospital, or research settings. There’s also 17.6% job growth for pharmacists, and an average salary of $100,022.

Law remains a popular profession

With 23,130 searches, the legal profession continues to attract strong interest. Law has long had a reputation for intellectual challenge and the possibility for social impact–plus, it tends to be a reliable career pathway that can also be quite lucrative. 

A legal career offers opportunities to specialise in areas like criminal, environmental, corporate, or family law–each with the potential to shape outcomes for individuals and communities. For those who are passionate about justice and advocacy, law can be deeply fulfilling. Additionally, growth is predicted for the New Zealand legal market after a period of significant fluctuations.

‘Electrician’ the most searched job in trade & construction

The top three jobs in the trade and construction category were Electrician (16,100 searches), Plumber (11,340 searches), and Mechanic (10,370 searches). Carpenter and Builder followed with 7,180 and 3,600 searches respectively. 

The common thread here is that these jobs are usually carried out by sole traders and small business owners–showing that Kiwis are keen to manage their own working lives. These types of jobs also require strong technical skills and a preference for hands-on work.

The construction industry is the third largest employing industry in New Zealand, and many existing tradespeople are nearing retirement – leaving gaps for new entrants. We’re also living in an age where cloud-based bookkeeping software for tradies has made it easier to manage a small business. All things considered, it’s never been a better time to jump into this industry and play your part in building New Zealand’s future!

For tradespeople going solo, QuickBooks makes it easier to quote, invoice, and manage cash flow on the go–perfect for electricians, plumbers, and builders running their own business.

The health & social care sector has the highest job interest 

As we’ve seen, ‘Nurse’ and ‘Pharmacist’ had the most interest after ‘Teacher’, with 36,020 and 23,680 searches respectively. Within the health and social care industry, ‘Midwife’ (20,120 searches), ‘Social Worker’ (19,770 searches), and ‘Paramedic’ (19,150 searches) also ranked highly. 

These are all jobs that attract people who are dependable, emotionally resilient, and driven to make a difference in people’s lives. Front line health care workers help others through care, recovery, crisis, or major life events (such as birth, illness, and trauma)–those in this field tend to have strong coping skills and a capacity to remain calm under pressure.

As for job prospects, there’s strong demand for health workers in New Zealand, with steady growth predicted for the health care and social assistance sector over the next decade. Demand is high both in urban centres and rural areas.

‘Chef’ is the hospitality job Kiwis are most curious about

By a huge margin (with 8,140 searches), the top job New Zealanders are searching for in hospitality is ‘Chef’. Interest in this career path was followed by ‘Butcher’ (3,310 searches), ‘Baker’ (3,030 searches), ‘Bartender’ (3,010 searches), and ‘Restaurant Manager’ (2,340 searches). 

It’s possible that ‘Chef’ was the winner in this category thanks to the ongoing influence of celebrity chefs and social media stars. For instance, Andy Hearnden (known professionally as ‘Andy Cooks’) is a great example of a Wellington-born chef who made a name for himself on socials after losing his job during the pandemic. Now he’s got thousands of followers worldwide and is the figurehead for a large business empire. Andy is a powerful example of how vocational training and resilience can lead to entrepreneurial success.

The hospitality industry attracts creative, energetic, and hands-on individuals who thrive in lively, often high-pressure environments. At the moment, there’s a looming hospitality workforce shortage in New Zealand, which means that it’s the perfect time to get into this field if you’re looking for a career change. 

From food trucks to boutique bakeries, many hospitality ventures start as small businesses. QuickBooks helps with everything from payroll to inventory tracking, so you can focus on creating amazing customer experiences.

Real estate, law, and accountancy rank highly in professional services

Within professional services, ‘Real Estate Agent’ and ‘Lawyer’ ranked particularly highly for job interest, attracting 31,870 and 23,130 searches respectively. These jobs were followed by ‘Accountant’ (15,960 searches), ‘Business Analyst’ (12,000 searches), and Detective (10,310 searches). 

As we’ve established, careers in real estate and law are appealing because they offer a high earning potential, while also providing opportunities for career advancement and the chance to work in people-focused environments. Accountancy is another career that provides structured pathways and ongoing demand (‘accountant’ appears on Immigration New Zealand's regional skill shortage list). 

There’s also a shortage of experienced business analysts in New Zealand, which is good news for anyone who enjoys shaping business strategy. Aspiring detectives, on the other hand, might have better luck operating their own private investigation agency rather than working their way up the ranks of the police force. If this feels like your true career calling, this guide explains how to become a private investigator in New Zealand.

‘Truck Driver’ the most searched for job in wholesale & distribution

Within the category of wholesale and distribution, the career of most interest is ‘Truck Driver’ with 11,790 searches. Following this was ‘Logistics Manager’ (1,850 searches), ‘Supply Chain Analyst’ (140 searches), and ‘Logistics Coordinator’ (20 searches). 

These careers attract people who are practical, organised, and calm under pressure. It’s these professionals who kept New Zealand moving through global supply chain disruptions, plus they continue to play a particularly vital role in disaster relief. 

This is an essential industry with steady job demand, plus there’s generally good pay and profession for many of these roles. Strong growth is also predicted, with data revealing a 3.3% year-on-year increase in total industrial sales, driven by manufacturing, utilities, and wholesale trade.

Discover how QuickBooks can support your career goals

QuickBooks’ research reveals that Kiwis are most curious about careers that offer purpose, people connection, and long-term stability. With high levels of interest for careers in teaching, nursing, and real estate, it’s clear that people have a desire for meaningful work that contributes to community wellbeing. 

There’s also growing interest in trades, hospitality, and logistics–industries vital to New Zealand’s economy and resilience. Whether driven by personal values, job security, or lifestyle goals, it’s clear that New Zealanders are thoughtfully re-evaluating their career paths in a changing world.

Understanding job market trends like these is essential for job seekers and career changers deciding their next move. Whether you’re launching a business or exploring a new career path, these insights can help you make better decisions.

Make your next career move with confidence

Whether you’re dreaming of becoming a teacher, launching your own plumbing business, or opening a neighbourhood café, one thing is clear: New Zealanders are ready to take control of their working lives.

From tracking income and managing expenses to simplifying tax, our tools are built for self-starters, sole traders, and small business owners looking to grow with confidence.

Just getting started? Explore our free New Business Toolkit, packed with essential checklists, guides, and templates to help you turn your idea into a thriving business.

Explore our tools for small business success.

Methodology 

This research studied New Zealand’s most searched jobs.

Using Google Data (Keyword Planner) QuickBooks analysed data spanning 12 months between December 2024 to November 2025 in New Zealand and each of the top 20 most populated urban rural areas, based on the 2023 Census population count (source: Stats NZ). The study focused on 10 different search terms associated with career interest and intent, such as ‘how to become a [job title]’, ‘how much do [job role] make’, ‘is [job title] a good career’, etc.

A seed list of 214 job roles was used to generate a comprehensive set of 2,140 relevant search terms. These keywords were then segmented by location using Google’s geo-targeting features to retrieve localised search volumes. Each job was ranked according to its total search volume within each area.

While the 2023 Census identified the Hibiscus Coast as one of the top 20 most populated areas, it was excluded from this analysis as it is not available as a targetable geographic location in Google Keyword Planner.

Data correct as of January 2026.