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.

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.

In 2022, around 9.3 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 16.9 percent.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for New Zealand (SLUEM1524ZSNZL) from 1991 to 2024 about New Zealand, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

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

New Zealand NZ: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 13.040 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.410 % for 2016. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 13.020 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.180 % in 1991 and a record low of 7.730 % in 1987. New Zealand NZ: Unemployment: National Estimate: Youth Female: % of Female Labour Force Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 14.28 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The number of unemployed youth worldwide decreased gradually from 2010 to 2019, but then increased in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, there were an estimated 64.5 million unemployed youths between 15 and 24 years worldwide. Highest youth unemployment globally The countries with the highest rates of youth not in education, employment, or training (NEET) include Niger, Kiribati, Guyana, Somalia, and Afghanistan. While there is geographic diversity in this group, each of these countries are either low-income or low-middle income. Moreover, each has their own set of challenges contributing to high NEET rates. For example, in Afghanistan this can be attributed to conflict and the 2021 Taliban takeover. In Kiribati and other Pacific Island nations, they face high levels of brain drain to larger economies such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Lowest youth unemployment globally On the contrary, countries with the lowest youth NEET rates include Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland, and Malta. Factors such as well-structed vocational training programs and affordable university education contribute to low NEET rates. However, these countries still face their own challenges. For example, one contributing factor to such low NEET rates in Japan is the overall shrinkage of the Japanese population, which is simultaneously aging. While unemployment remains low in the country, it faces the potential crisis of not having enough people to support the labor market.

The youth unemployment rate in Fiji saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around 15.5 percent. Still, 2024 marked the fourth consecutive decline of the youth unemployment rate. 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 New Zealand and Australia.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 10.58 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 13.98 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In recent years, the Personal Welfare Services sector has experienced favourable operating conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the focus on health and social services, benefitting the industry through increased government funding and overall demand. Revenue for the Personal Welfare Services industry is expected to grow at an annualised 5.8% over the five years through 2023-24, to total $2.38 billion. New Zealand's economy took a major hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant rise in unemployment and aggravating existing societal problems. Even though the country saw considerable economic growth and lower unemployment rates before the pandemic, multiple negative factors continue to influence demand for personal welfare services. These factors include child poverty, single-parent households and individuals living alone and consequences from substance abuse like family breakdown and domestic violence. This situation has led to a growing need for counselling and child and family welfare services in recent years. The scarcity of affordable housing has also escalated homelessness, resulting in increased utilisation of food banks, soup kitchens and homeless welfare support. In 2023-24, industry revenue is anticipated to rise by 0.6% due to the increasing cost of living and persistent socio-economic inequalities. Despite many businesses being not-for-profit, profit margins are also expected to rise as government spending grows in line with the Wellbeing Budget. Revenue is projected to rise at an annualised 0.2% over the five years through 2028-29 to $2.40 billion. Revenue is set to climb slower than in recent years due to stabilising conditions following the COVID-19 pandemic. Many government investments and initiatives hope to alleviate housing stress and lower rates of homelessness. However, an aging population and the pervasive problem of child poverty will persistently lead to heightened demand for personal welfare services in the approaching years.

Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 10.84 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Female: % of Female Youth Population data was reported at 13.210 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.260 % for 2015. New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Female: % of Female Youth Population data is updated yearly, averaging 14.400 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.720 % in 2009 and a record low of 13.210 % in 2016. New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Female: % of Female Youth Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Share of youth not in education, employment or training (NEET) is the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training to the population of the corresponding age group: youth (ages 15 to 24); persons ages 15 to 29; or both age groups.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

New Zealand NZ: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data was reported at 57.330 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 56.460 % for 2016. New Zealand NZ: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 58.055 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 74.400 % in 1986 and a record low of 50.300 % in 2012. New Zealand NZ: Employment To Population Ratio: National Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data was reported at 11.750 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.980 % for 2016. New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data is updated yearly, averaging 11.590 % from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2017, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.080 % in 2009 and a record low of 10.720 % in 2006. New Zealand NZ: Share of Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training: Total: % of Youth Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Share of youth not in education, employment or training (NEET) is the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment, or training to the population of the corresponding age group: youth (ages 15 to 24); persons ages 15 to 29; or both age groups.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 10.72 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

NZ：失业：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：年轻人：占15-24岁劳动力总人数百分比在12-01-2017达12.765%，相较于12-01-2016的13.286%有所下降。NZ：失业：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：年轻人：占15-24岁劳动力总人数百分比数据按年更新，12-01-1991至12-01-2017期间平均值为13.591%，共27份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1991，达19.355%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2004，为9.663%。CEIC提供的NZ：失业：模拟国际劳工组织（ILO）估算：年轻人：占15-24岁劳动力总人数百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的新西兰 – 表 NZ.世界银行：就业和失业。

NZ：失业：国家评估报告：年轻女性：占15-24岁女性劳动力百分比在12-01-2017达13.040%，相较于12-01-2016的13.410%有所下降。NZ：失业：国家评估报告：年轻女性：占15-24岁女性劳动力百分比数据按年更新，12-01-1986至12-01-2017期间平均值为13.020%，共32份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-1991，达17.180%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-1987，为7.730%。CEIC提供的NZ：失业：国家评估报告：年轻女性：占15-24岁女性劳动力百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的新西兰 – 表 NZ.世界银行：就业和失业。

NZ：未受教育、无业或未受培训青少年比例：女性：占女性年轻人口百分比在12-01-2016达13.210%，相较于12-01-2015的13.260%有所下降。NZ：未受教育、无业或未受培训青少年比例：女性：占女性年轻人口百分比数据按年更新，12-01-2007至12-01-2016期间平均值为14.400%，共10份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-2009，达16.720%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2016，为13.210%。CEIC提供的NZ：未受教育、无业或未受培训青少年比例：女性：占女性年轻人口百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的新西兰 – 表 NZ.世界银行：就业和失业。