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 unemployment rate in New Zealand increased by 0.4 percentage points (+12.12 percent) in 2023. In total, the unemployment rate amounted to 3.74 percent in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining unemployment rate.The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged under 15 years, or retired persons.Find more key insights for the unemployment rate in countries like Tonga and Fiji.

Youth Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 13.50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 12.30 percent in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Youth Unemployment 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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRHUTTTTNZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q4 2024 about New Zealand, harmonized, unemployment, persons, and rate.

The number of unemployed persons in New Zealand increased to 156 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 148 Thousand in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - New Zealand Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Monthly Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 24 Years for New Zealand (LRHU24TTNZQ156N) from Q1 1986 to Q4 2024 about New Zealand, 15 to 24 years, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.

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.

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's official employment and unemployment statistics are sourced from the Household Labour Force Survey. Data on the number of people employed in New Zealand and the unemployment rate is available from 1970.

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.

The youth unemployment rate in New Zealand increased by 1.4 percentage points (+15.04 percent) compared to the previous year. In total, the youth unemployment rate amounted to 10.72 percent in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining youth unemployment rate.The youth unemployment rate of a country or region refers to the share of the total workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently without work, but actively searching for employment. It does not include economically inactive persons such as full-time students or the long-term unemployed.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Samoa and Tonga.

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.

The labour market statistics information release combines data from three surveys to present a broad picture of the labour market. From the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) we provide a picture of New Zealand's labour force – these statistics relate to employment, unemployment, and people not in the labour force. The Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) estimates the demand for labour by New Zealand businesses – the levels and changes in employment, total weekly gross earnings, total weekly paid hours, average hourly and average weekly earnings, and average weekly paid hours in the industries we survey. The Labour Cost Index (LCI) measures changes in salary and wage rates for a fixed quantity and quality of labour input. It is a measure of wage inflation, reflecting changes in the rates that employers pay to have the same job done to the same standard.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in New Zealand was reported at 3.731 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. New Zealand - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

In 2022, about 11.6 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.

New Zealand NZT Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data was reported at 4.100 % in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.100 % for 2022. New Zealand NZT Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data is updated yearly, averaging 5.350 % from Jun 1998 (Median) to 2023, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.100 % in 2010 and a record low of 3.400 % in 2006. New Zealand NZT Forecast: Unemployment Rate: sa data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by New Zealand Treasury. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.G035: Labour Force Statistics: Forecast: New Zealand Treasury.

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.

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.