Unemployment Rate in New Zealand remained unchanged at 5.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 5.10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in New Zealand stood at 4.87 percent. Between 1991 and 2024, the figure dropped by 5.74 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 64 Years for New Zealand (LRUN64TTNZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, 15 to 64 years, unemployment, and rate.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in New Zealand in 2020, by ethnicity. That year, around *** percent of the European labor force in New Zealand were unemployed. Around *** percent of the Maori labor force were unemployed for the same year.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Male: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRUNTTMANZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, 15 years +, males, unemployment, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Total: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LFHUTTTTNZA647S) from 1956 to 2024 about New Zealand and unemployment.

In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in New Zealand amounted to 14.28 percent. Between 1991 and 2024, the figure dropped by 5.04 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory.

Key information about New Zealand Unemployment Rate

• New Zealand Unemployment Rate increased to 5.10% in Dec 2024, from the previously reported figure of 4.80% in Sep 2024.
• New Zealand Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1986 to Dec 2024, with an average rate of 5.45%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.20% in Sep 1991 and a record low of 3.20% in Mar 2022.
• The data is reported by reported by Stats NZ.
• In the latest reports, New Zealand Population reached 5.36 million people in Dec 2024.

New Zealand RBNZ Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data was reported at 4.100 % in 2022. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.100 % for 2021. New Zealand RBNZ Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data is updated yearly, averaging 5.250 % from Mar 1997 (Median) to 2022, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.400 % in 1999 and a record low of 3.600 % in 2008. New Zealand RBNZ Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.G034: Labour Force Statistics: Forecast: Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Youth Unemployment Rate in New Zealand decreased to 12.90 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 13.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Youth Unemployment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Male: 25 Years or over for New Zealand (LRHUADMANZQ156N) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, males, 25 years +, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.

*** percent of the labor force in New Zealand were unemployed as of the first quarter of 2020. According to world bank estimates, the annual share of the labor force that were unemployed in 2019 was at **** percent. By international standards, however, this value is relatively low.

Employment opportunities

After experiencing an economic downtown following the 2008 global financial crisis, the labor market in New Zealand has been slow to recover to pre-recession levels. This can be observed in the unemployment rate of the country, as well as in other economic indicators. That’s not to say the labor market isn’t improving - by 2020, employment in the country was estimated to continue increasing to **** million people. However this estimate was made before the coronavirus crisis in early 2020. The country’s labor force participation rate, a measure of an economy’s active labor force, has also continued to increase.

The job market

New Zealand’s employment landscape is dominated by the services sector; over ** percent of the workforce are employed in this economic sector. Although the agriculture and goods-producing sectors have been historically strong, the shift towards the services sector is becoming more evident across the nation.

In 2022, about **** percent of unemployed people in New Zealand were unemployed for at least 12 months. This marked an increase in New Zealand's long-term unemployment rate from the previous year.

The number of unemployed persons in New Zealand remained unchanged at 156 Thousand in the first quarter of 2025 from 156 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

New Zealand NZ: Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data was reported at 73.983 % in 2026. This records an increase from the previous number of 73.500 % for 2025. New Zealand NZ: Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data is updated yearly, averaging 67.048 % from Dec 1985 (Median) to 2026, with 42 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.456 % in 2023 and a record low of 50.748 % in 1988. New Zealand NZ: Employment Rate: Age 15-74 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.OECD.EO: Employment and Unemployment: Forecast: OECD Member: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Male: From 25 to 54 Years for New Zealand (LRUN25MANZQ156N) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, 25 to 54 years, males, unemployment, and rate.

In 2022, around *** percent of the youth population aged 15 to 24 years in New Zealand were unemployed. This marked a decrease from the previous year's unemployment rate in the country. The highest youth unemployment rate during the measured period was recorded in 2012, at **** percent.

New Zealand Unemployment data was reported at 167.300 Person th in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 153.100 Person th for Dec 2024. New Zealand Unemployment data is updated quarterly, averaging 123.000 Person th from Mar 1986 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 157 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 194.900 Person th in Mar 1992 and a record low of 68.100 Person th in Sep 1986. New Zealand Unemployment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Stats NZ. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.G035: Household Labour Force Survey: Unemployment. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

New Zealand Expectations of Unemployment Rate: 2 Years Ahead data was reported at 4.470 % in Dec 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.450 % for Sep 2018. New Zealand Expectations of Unemployment Rate: 2 Years Ahead data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.670 % from Dec 1993 (Median) to Dec 2018, with 101 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.200 % in Dec 1993 and a record low of 4.000 % in Dec 2007. New Zealand Expectations of Unemployment Rate: 2 Years Ahead data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.G034: Labour Force Statistics: Forecast: Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

This report analyses trends in the national unemployment rate. The national unemployment rate measures the proportion of people in the labour force who are unemployed. The labour force includes all people who are employed and unemployed. Unemployment is defined as all people in the working-age population who were without a paid job, available for work and had either actively sought work in the past four weeks ending or had a new job to start within the next four weeks. The data for this report is sourced from Statistics New Zealand (Tatauranga Aotearoa) and is measured in percentage points for year end March.