Talent Pool
Ōtautahi Christchurch offers a highly skilled and diverse talent pool, with a focus in technology, engineering, aerospace and agriculture. The city is home to leading universities and research institutes, producing graduates equipped with innovative, future-ready skills.
Workforce Stats
Business Landscape: As of February 2024, approximately 47,450 businesses employed 241,200 people in Christchurch.
Key Sectors: The largest industries by number of employees in Christchurch are:
- Health Care and Social Assistance (33,100 employees)
- Retail Trade (23,500 employees)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (22,500 employees)
- Manufacturing (22,200 employees)
- Construction (21,600 employees)
A Strong Talent Pipeline
Universities and research institutes play a key role in nurturing innovation, while initiatives like the Ministry of Awesome and UC’s Centre for Entrepreneurship provide mentorship, accelerators, and networking opportunities.
- University of Canterbury (UC): Known for engineering, computer science, and business, UC fosters an entrepreneurial spirit and produces graduates ready to make an impact in both established industries and emerging fields.
- Lincoln University: Specialising in agriculture and environmental sciences, Lincoln University is a leader in agritech and produces graduates highly sought after by global companies.
- Otago University (Christchurch campus): The University of Otago Christchurch campus a specialised health sciences school located in the heart of Te Papa Hauora (the city's dedicated health precinct). Many of its teaching and research staff hold joint positions with Te Whatu Ora – ensuring close clinical links.
- Ara Institute of Canterbury: The largest institute of technology in the South Island. Ara produces graduates in a wide range of areas, including Laboratory Technology, Engineering Technology, Computing & ICT and Commerce & Business.
Industries Creating and Attracting Talent
Christchurch’s strong manufacturing base and expanding tech sector attract skilled professionals both locally and internationally. A supportive business ecosystem with government-backed programmes plays a key role in attracting and retaining talent. With its affordable living and high quality of life, Christchurch is the ideal location to tap into a pool of forward-thinking talent.
Explore the key industries creating and attracting talent to Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Inspire The Next Generation
Connecting and inspiring young people into career paths which fuel your industry can benefit not just your business but the city and region.
Find out some of the many ways your business can help shape the next generation of talent.
Ōtautahi Christchurch Toolkit
ChristchurchNZ has created a dedicated online toolkit of resources to support employers, recruiters, and tertiaries to showcase the city as a great place to work, live, study and play.
Clive Seymour - CEO, Canterbury ScientificChristchurch has provided a good flow of scientific and manufacturing talent over the years. Many of our employees are locals or have settled here from up north or overseas. They come for the lifestyle and want to balance family life with work in a globally active, high-tech, regulated industry.
Success Stories
Discover some of the companies that have benefitted from Christchurch talent pool.
