Chances of getting a job as a counsellor are good due to demand for their services.
However, turnover among counsellors is low, so vacancies don't occur often and entry-level opportunities can be hard to find.
As a result, some graduates struggle to achieve the number of counselling hours required to qualify for membership with a professional body.
Counsellor appears on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled counsellors from overseas to work in New Zealand.
According to the Census, 5,223 counsellors worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Qualifications and professional membership recommended
Qualified counsellors with experience and a professional counselling organisation membership have the best chance of finding work.
Good employment opportunities for Māori counsellors
The New Zealand Association of Counsellors reports a shortage of qualified Māori counsellors.
Increasing the chances of finding your first job
Increase your chances of work as a new graduate with:
- a successful report from a training placement that demonstrates your work-readiness
- work as a volunteer to build up your experience
- skills in alcohol and drugs counselling, or group counselling.
Self-employment and private practice work common
Forty percent of counsellors are in private practice. The remainder may work for:
- health and welfare services
- schools, universities and polytechnics
- government agencies such as ACC
- human resources departments
- job and recruitment agencies.
Nearly 40% of counsellors work part-time. The exception is drug and alcohol counsellors, 90% of whom are full-time employees.
