Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 5.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025. 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.

Employment Rate in New Zealand decreased to 66.80 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 67.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

*** 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.

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.

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 Total: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRUNTTTTNZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q2 2025 about New Zealand, 15 years +, unemployment, and rate.

Youth Unemployment Rate in New Zealand remained unchanged at 12.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 12.90 percent in the first quarter of 2025. 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: Unemployment Total: From 15 to 64 Years for New Zealand (LFUN64TTNZQ647S) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2025 about New Zealand, 15 to 64 years, 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.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Male: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRHUTTMANZA156N) from 1959 to 2024 about New Zealand, males, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.

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.

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 Q2 2025 about 25 to 54 years, New Zealand, males, unemployment, and rate.

The number of employed people in New Zealand amounted to 2.92 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the number rose by 1.4 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. From 2024 to 2026, the number will increase by 80,000 people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

The number of unemployed persons in New Zealand increased to 158 Thousand in the second quarter of 2025 from 156 Thousand in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This statistic presents the results of a survey on perceived unemployment rate among working age population in New Zealand as of ************. According to data published by Ipsos, kiwi respondents overestimated the level of unemployment in their country by ** percent. On average, the respondents thought that around ** out of every 100 New Zealand people of working age were unemployed and looking for work, when the actual unemployment rate was **** percent in New Zealand.

New Zealand: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 4.87 percent, an increase from 3.73 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for New Zealand from 1991 to 2024 is 5.77 percent. The minimum value, 3.3 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 10.67 percent was recorded in 1992.

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.