Job Prospects... At a glance
Job prospects for printers and print finishers are poor. New technology in the industry and declining newspaper and book sales has resulted in a sharp decline in employment in this industry. This decline is expected to continue, and it could be difficult for new workers to enter this industry.
Printers and print finishers prepare, print and bind books, newspapers, magazines and other printed materials.
There are no formal entry requirements to work as a printer or print finisher, but most employers prefer employees who have, or are working towards, a qualification. In order to get qualified, students must get a job as a print worker before starting an apprenticeship.
Competenz offer a New Zealand Certificate in Print (Levels 3 and 4), and New Zealand Certificates in Binding and Finishing (Levels 3 and 4). They also offer a National Diploma in Print Industry Management (Level 5) for more advanced workers.
The industry training organisation that manages apprenticeships in the printing industry is Competenz.
You cannot get an NZQA-accredited qualification in printing other than through Competenz, as no polytechnics or private training establishments offer these qualifications.
The New Zealand Apprenticeships scheme is available for anyone over the age of 16, and is subsidised by the government. More information on the scheme is available on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) website.
TEC: www.tec.govt.nz/teo/working-with-teos/itos/new-zealand-apprenticeships
The Industry Training Organisation (ITO) that looks after training for printers and print finishers is Competenz. It arranges apprenticeships nationwide.
Competenz: www.competenz.org.nz
The annual income for printers and print finishers is estimated to be around $51,400. Income depends on experience. With intense competition for vacancies expected in the future, incomes could drop.
| Estimated Average Income |
|---|
| $51,400 |
Source: MBIE estimates based on Statistics NZ Census and Labour Cost Index
Printers and print finishers’ employment
| Historic | Projected Growth | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2013 | 2021 | 2026 |
| 8,067 | 4,794 | 3,734 | 2,759 |
| -7.2% | -4.1% | -5.9% | |
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections. Percentages are compound annual growth rates.
* Growth projections are based on the wider category “Printing Trades Workers”.
The number of printers and finishers in employment fell sharply from 2006 to 2013. This fall is expected to continue, especially after 2020. Overall numbers are projected to drop to around 2,760 in 2026, a far cry from the roughly 8,000 workers who were employed in 2006. This trend is likely to make it hard for new workers to enter the printing industry.
Employment chart
Source: Statistics NZ Census and MBIE projections
Printers and print finishers are not on Immigration New Zealand's skill shortage lists.
Immigration NZ, skill shortage list: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
Printer and print finisher vacancies are advertised through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs and Seek websites.
TradeMe Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs
Seek: www.seek.co.nz
There is no clear career path for printers and print finishers.
The following occupations are related roles or alternative titles. Some of the roles may require a higher level of skill than entry-level printers and print finishers.
More information on printers and print finishers is available on the Careers New Zealand website.
Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz
The Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) is the official classification of occupations in New Zealand.
The occupation of printers and print finishers has been coded to the following ANZSCO code for the purpose of this report:
392 – Printing Trades Workers