Construction and manufacturing workers are out the door, with more opportunities in other industries or abroad.  

Stats NZ finds the overall number of filled jobs ticked up 0.3% from January to February.  

But close to eight thousand jobs in construction and manufacturing have disappeared in the past year. 

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Ryan Bridge most building work's now in the renovation space.  

He says new builds have fallen away quite a lot, so well qualified workers are moving across to renovations and small commercial work. 

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