Best Recruitment Agencies in Wellington
We assessed 20 recruitment agencies in Wellington and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 1,503 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 24 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Whether you need temp staffing, a permanent hire or an executive search, recruitment agency fees vary widely, and the best agency for a role depends heavily on their network in your sector. Ask about their placement rate for roles similar to yours, how long placements typically take to fill, and what guarantee or replacement policy applies if a hire does not work out.
Top 5 Recruitment Agencies in Wellington
The top 5 recruitment agencies in Wellington are #1 Trade Assist, #2 Archway Recruitment, #3 Key Skills Recruitment, #4 Beyond Recruitment, and #5 Robert Walters, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Trade Assist | Staffing + Recruitment (Wellington)
★ 4.8 332 reviews +1 Top5 Score 1795★ 303 4★ 18 3★ 5 2★ 1 1★ 5Trade Assist turns around job placements quickly, with several workers moving from first contact to starting a role within 24 hours across forklift, factory, and temporary work. Consultants like Florian and Jay are noted for clear communication and making sure workers have the right gear and role information before they start.
location_on Shop 66/82 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville, Wellington
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2
Archway Recruitment
★ 4.9 147 reviews +8 Top5 Score 170 +15★ 141 4★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 2Archway Recruitment connects candidates with relevant roles across permanent, contract, and temporary placements, taking care to assess team fit and candidate aptitude rather than simply matching job description keywords. Consultants like Grant, Thomas, Olivia, and Simone keep both candidates and hiring managers informed at every stage, from application through to letter of offer.
location_on floor 4/326 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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3
Key Skills Recruitment Limited
★ 4.7 195 reviews +3 Top5 Score 169 +15★ 172 4★ 8 3★ 6 1★ 9Key Skills Recruitment gets candidates into temp, permanent, and first-time roles by taking time to understand individual strengths and match them to the right employer. Consultants like Ryan, Masi, Josh, and Rebecca follow up regularly once a worker is placed, checking in weekly and visiting worksites to make sure things are going well.
location_on 62 Hutt Road, Petone, Wellington
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4
Beyond Recruitment Ltd
↑ 1★ 4.8 164 reviews Top5 Score 1665★ 151 4★ 4 3★ 2 1★ 7Beyond Recruitment places candidates across temp, contract, and permanent roles, with consultants like Laura, Louise, Kathy, and Kirstie taking time to understand individual backgrounds before matching people to roles. Some candidates who spent months job-searching independently secured a position within weeks of signing up, and the agency maintains active relationships with placed workers over years, not just through a single assignment.
location_on Perpetual Guardian House Level 10/99 Customhouse Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington
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5
Robert Walters - Recruitment Agency Wellington
↑ 1★ 4.9 182 reviews +1 Top5 Score 1665★ 170 4★ 8 3★ 1 1★ 3Robert Walters guides candidates through permanent and contract placements, with individual consultants like Allie, Emily, and Reuben maintaining contact at every stage from first interview through to post-placement check-ins. Faster-than-expected outcomes in a difficult Wellington job market come up repeatedly, with candidates landing roles that match goals discussed at the very start of the process.
location_on Harbour Tower 2 Hunter Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
Before you hire a recruitment agency in Wellington
Drawn from 153 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do recruitment agencies typically charge in New Zealand? expand_more
Employers, not job seekers, pay recruitment fees in New Zealand, and this is protected by the Employment Relations Act 2000. Contingency fees for permanent placements run from 10% to 20% of the placed candidate's first-year salary, with most standard roles sitting between 12% and 15%.
Senior, executive, or specialist technical roles can attract fees of 20% to 25% of annual salary. If any agency asks you as a job seeker to pay a fee, report it to the Labour Inspectorate within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which enforces this rule.
How do I know if an agency specialises in my industry or role type? expand_more
Ask directly how many roles of your type the agency placed in the past 12 months and whether they have a consultant dedicated to your sector. Reviews for some Wellington agencies show that genuine specialisation produces noticeably better candidate matches, with one civil and construction-focused consultant praised for deep industry knowledge that saved employers significant time screening unsuitable applicants.
An agency that can describe the current market for your role, including salary benchmarks and candidate availability, is drawing on real sector experience rather than generalist guesswork. If a consultant struggles to name competitors in your field or relevant candidate profiles, treat that as a signal they are filling your brief from a broad pool rather than a targeted one.
What happens if the placement doesn't work out? expand_more
Replacement guarantees in New Zealand sit between 8 and 12 weeks for most roles, extending to 3 to 6 months for senior or executive placements, and agencies will usually find a replacement candidate rather than issue a cash refund. These terms are entirely contractual because recruitment agencies in New Zealand operate without a specific licensing regime, so the service agreement you sign is your only protection.
Read that agreement carefully before signing, paying attention to conditions that can void the guarantee such as a change to the role, redundancy, or your own conduct as an employer. Send written notice to the agency immediately if a placement fails, as most guarantees require prompt notification within a defined window to remain valid.
What are the warning signs of a recruitment agency you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –An agency that schedules an interview, then cancels on the day without rescheduling and stops returning calls or emails is a clear sign of poor process management.
- –Asking a candidate to provide a urine sample before disclosing the employer name or salary suggests the agency is prioritising client demands over basic candidate respect.
- –A consultant who stops responding after taking a brief, or who repeatedly re-advertises the same role without contacting applicants already in the pipeline, is not managing the process properly.
- –Failing to provide honest feedback about why a candidate was not progressed wastes the candidate's time and signals the agency does not invest in the people it registers.
- –An agency that offers you work and then quietly gives the placement to someone else without explanation shows unreliable follow-through.
- –No written confirmation of job details such as salary, hours, and days of work before placement begins indicates a lack of basic process discipline.
What should you ask before engaging a recruitment agency? expand_more
- –Ask how they screen candidates beyond reviewing a CV, including whether they conduct structured interviews and reference checks before presenting anyone to you.
- –Confirm the fee structure in writing, including the percentage of first-year salary, what services are included, and whether there are any additional costs for advertising or testing.
- –Request the full terms of their replacement guarantee, specifically the duration, what triggers it, and which circumstances would void it.
- –Ask for a realistic timeframe from brief to shortlist based on recent placements in your sector, not a best-case estimate.
- –Clarify how they will keep you updated during the search, including how often you will receive progress reports and through what channel.
- –If you are a job seeker, confirm in writing that no fees will be charged to you at any point, as charging candidate fees is illegal under the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Also recommended recruitment agencies in Wellington
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
McLaren Recruitment
↓ 2★ 5.0 113 reviews +4 Top5 Score 165 -35★ 109 4★ 4McLaren Recruitment has built a clear track record placing candidates in the for-purpose sector, with employer clients returning across multiple recruitment rounds and consistently receiving high-quality shortlists. Candidates moving through the process report being kept informed at every stage, with consultants like Ngan and Susie making time to answer questions and prepare people properly before interviews.
location_on 1/155 The Terrace, Te Aro, Wellington
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7
ANZUK Education Wellington (previously ep.education)
★ 4.9 81 reviews Top5 Score 1615★ 75 4★ 6ANZUK Education coordinates the full journey for internationally qualified teachers moving to New Zealand, covering CV improvement, Teaching Council registration, EdPay setup, and interview preparation. Consultants like Tina, Annalise, Kirstin, and Zaf go beyond job matching to help with practical settlement steps including bank accounts, accommodation guidance, and connecting new arrivals with fellow educators already in the country.
location_on 94 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington
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8
Enterprise Recruitment Wellington
↓ 1★ 4.5 151 reviews +5 Top5 Score 160 -35★ 127 4★ 8 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 14Enterprise Recruitment places candidates and employer clients in civil, construction, and general roles by taking time to understand individual circumstances, culture, and career goals before making a match. Named consultants like Ben, Natalie, Michelle, and Tarrin keep candidates updated from application through to hire, and employer clients credit them with saving significant time through well-screened shortlists.
location_on 1/205 Jackson Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
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9
Salt
↓ 1★ 4.9 73 reviews Top5 Score 154 -15★ 71 1★ 2Salt places candidates across temporary, contract, and permanent roles, with consultants like Leanne, Ronnie, Allie, and Sue taking time to understand individual backgrounds, career goals, and the kinds of roles each person is actually open to before making introductions. Several people pivoting from unrelated backgrounds or entering the workforce for the first time found themselves placed in multiple successive assignments that built the experience needed for a permanent move.
location_on Level 1/17-21 Whitmore Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
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10
Technical Recruitment Solutions Ltd
↓ 1★ 4.8 65 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 59 4★ 4 1★ 2Technical Recruitment Solutions fills briefs across both candidate placement and employer hiring, with named consultants including Tony, Luke, Olivia, and Adam each managing their side of the process closely. Hiring managers credit the team with delivering strong candidates within short timeframes, while job seekers report being kept informed at every stage and guided through the process with transparency.
location_on 187 Featherston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington
About this ranking
What the 10 recruitment agencies listed above hold, at the 24 September 2026 check.
We first assessed recruitment agencies in Wellington in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Two different businesses have held first place; Trade Assist has held it since April 2026. Across the 14 locations we assess recruitment agencies in, the 130 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.8, and one-star reviews are 2.9% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Robert Walters returned to the top 5, up from #6. McLaren Recruitment left the top 5, down to #6. ANZUK Education returned to the list at #7.
- Aug 2026
Scoring method updated. Beyond Recruitment returned to the top 5, up from #6. Robert Walters left the top 5, down to #6.
- Jun 2026
- Apr 2026
Scoring method updated. Key Skills Recruitment entered the top 5, up from #6. Beyond Recruitment left the top 5, down to #6. Enterprise Recruitment entered the list at #10.
- Mar 2026
First check. Trade Assist #1.
How are the top recruitment agencies in Wellington chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for recruitment agencies in Wellington. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for recruitment agencies in Wellington. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.