The best time to invest in your people is now
30 April 2026

Global uncertainty is still casting a long shadow over the building and construction sector. Fuel pressures, supply chain risks and patchy business confidence mean many firms are continuing to operate cautiously, even as some parts of the market had begun to show signs of improvement.

That is exactly why BCITO Chair Phil Brosnan says businesses need to be thinking ahead now. As he warns, when activity returns, the biggest constraint is unlikely to be the availability of work, but the availability of skilled people. If employers wait for full confidence to return before hiring or training, they risk being caught short when demand lifts.

Prior to the fuel crisis, there were early signs that activity is beginning to recover. In the year to February 2026, the number of new homes consented was up 12 percent from the year ended February 2025. Auckland and Wellington saw particularly large increases. This indicates that when the conflict is over, demand will pick up again. According to the National Construction Pipeline report, infrastructure activity is forecast to increase from $55.7 billion in 2025 to $65.4 billion in 2030.

For businesses that have put off hiring or training, that makes this an important moment to plan ahead. Competition for skilled workers is likely to intensify as conditions improve, particularly with many experienced tradies and school leavers already leaving New Zealand for Australia. Taking on an apprentice is a smart investment in your business. BCITO studies show apprentices start adding value by year two, with every dollar spent on formal training delivering a strong return over time. Junior team members can help with a range of day-to-day tasks, allowing senior tradespeople to focus on more complex work, while building the skilled workforce your business will need for the future.

What training resources are available?

There’s been a change to the way a lot of training is delivered this year. BCITO is now a Private Training Establishment (PTE). This means it delivers training directly to building and construction apprentices across 16 trades, rather than only providing resources, training support, guidance and connections for employers and apprentices as it did under Te Pūkenga. It’s promised to provide more tailored support to create individualised assistance for each employer and apprentice combination based on their needs and preferences, rather than one-size-fits-all.

Employers can also enrol their new or existing workers in training at polytechnics or Builders Academy in certain areas, or partner with the Gateway programme to provide on-the-job work experience to school students, get extra support on projects and build relationships with potential new employees.

To connect with potential new employees or see what training is available, go to the BCITO or Builders Academy websites. For more on what Gateway offers employers, visit EarnLearn.