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 increased by 1.1 percentage points (+29.49 percent) compared to 2023. In total, the unemployment rate amounted to 4.87 percent in 2024. The unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population currently without work but in search of employment. The unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed, children, or retirees.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Tonga and Fiji.

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.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in New Zealand in 2020, by ethnicity. That year, around 3.7 percent of the European labor force in New Zealand were unemployed. Around 8.3 percent of the Maori labor force were unemployed for the same year.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Female: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRHUTTFENZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, females, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 55 to 64 Years for New Zealand (LRUN55TTNZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about 55 to 64 years, New Zealand, unemployment, and rate.

New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate data was reported at 4.700 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.100 % for 2016. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.096 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.625 % in 1992 and a record low of 3.675 % in 2007. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

4.4 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 4.07 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 2.72 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 70 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.

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.

The youth unemployment rate in New Zealand increased by 3.6 percentage points (+33.64 percent) in 2024. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 14.28 percent in 2024. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population aged 15 to 24 currently without work but in search of employment. The youth unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Samoa and Tonga.

New Zealand: Unemployment rate forecast: The latest value from 2030 is 4.45 percent, a decline from 4.47 percent in 2029. In comparison, the world average is 6.28 percent, based on data from 100 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1980 to 2030 is 5.54 percent. The minimum value, 3.3 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 10.68 percent was recorded in 1992.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Male: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LFHUTTMANZA647S) from 1959 to 2024 about New Zealand, males, and unemployment.

New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -6.250 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -10.204 % for Mar 2018. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated quarterly, averaging -3.852 % from Mar 1987 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 126 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.180 % in Dec 1989 and a record low of -26.882 % in Mar 1995. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

New Zealand: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2023 is 3.74 percent, an increase from 3.3 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 6.99 percent, based on data from 178 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1991 to 2023 is 5.8 percent. The minimum value, 3.3 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 10.67 percent was recorded in 1992.

Employment Rate in New Zealand decreased to 67.20 percent in the first quarter of 2025 from 67.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Historical chart and dataset showing New Zealand unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 25 to 54 Years for New Zealand (LRUN25TTNZQ156N) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, 25 to 54 years, unemployment, and rate.

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.

New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at 2.273 % in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of -2.222 % for Mar 2018. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 % from Jun 1986 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 129 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.833 % in Jun 1987 and a record low of -32.653 % in Jun 1990. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.