Coachbuilders/trimmers in demand
Chances of getting a job as a coachbuilder or trimmer are good due to high demand for:
- buses to cater for growth in public transport and tourism
- motorhomes for growing numbers of tourists
- trucks to transport increasing amounts of road freight.
They are also needed to maintain and rebuild existing vehicles.
There is a shortage of coachbuilders/trimmers due to:
- increased competition for their services in similar types of work
- not enough people entering training.
However, vacancies are limited as coachbuilder/trimmer is a small occupation.
According to the Census, 732 coachbuilder/trimmers worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Coachbuilders/trimmers work in main centres
Approximately a third of coachbuilders/trimmers are employed in Auckland and most others work in Hamilton, Christchurch, Tauranga and Wellington.
Types of employers varied
Coachbuilders/trimmers work for companies that:
- manufacture and service buses, motorhomes, caravans or heavy trucks
- run public or tourist buses
- upholster vehicles
Self-employment higher for trimmers than coachbuilders
Thirty five percent of trimmers are self-employed, but only five percent of coachbuilders.
