Few opportunities for professional sportspeople
It is difficult to find work as a professional sportsperson in New Zealand. Most paid sportspeople are semi-professional, earning some money from sport and working a second job to make a living.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced opportunities for professional sportspeople.
Demand may improve slightly as restrictions to control the spread of the pandemic ease.
According to the Census, 1,020 professional sportspeople worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Professional sportspeople typically have short careers
A professional sportsperson's career can be quite short due to the physically demanding nature of the role. For example, the average career in rugby lasts about five years. Careers in less physically intensive sports, such as golf and horse racing, usually last longer.
Types of employers varied
Professional sportspeople can be:
- employed by professional sports teams or leagues
- self-employed, and earn a living from a combination of competition prize money, scholarships and sponsorship or advertising.
Sports that employ significant numbers of professional sportspeople in teams or leagues include:
- cricket
- football
- netball
- rugby.
Sportspeople who participate in Olympic sports are also more likely to be semi-professional, as some of these sports receive targeted funding from government.
