Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.30 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 5.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand 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: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRHUTTMANZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q3 2025 about New Zealand, males, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.

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.

Youth Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 13.80 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 12.90 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand Youth Unemployment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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 5.30% in Sep 2025, from the previously reported figure of 5.20% in Jun 2025.
• New Zealand Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1986 to Sep 2025, with an average rate of 3.70%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 11.20% in Sep 1991 and a record low of 3.20% in Dec 2021.
• The data is reported by reported by Stats NZ.
• In the latest reports, New Zealand Population reached 5.31 million people in Dec 2024.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Male: 15 Years or over for New Zealand (LRUNTTMANZA156N) from 1959 to 2024 about New Zealand, 15 years +, males, 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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Female: From 15 to 24 Years for New Zealand (LRUN24FENZA156S) from 1986 to 2024 about New Zealand, 15 to 24 years, females, 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.

Employment Rate in New Zealand decreased to 66.60 percent in the third quarter of 2025 from 66.80 percent in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Monthly and long-term New Zealand Unemployment data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Total: From 15 to 64 Years for New Zealand (LRUN64TTNZA156S) from 1986 to 2024 about New Zealand, 15 to 64 years, unemployment, and rate.

The number of unemployed persons in New Zealand increased to 160 Thousand in the third quarter of 2025 from 158 Thousand in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - New Zealand Unemployed Persons - 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 *** 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: From 15 to 24 Years for New Zealand (LRUN24TTNZQ156S) from Q1 1986 to Q3 2025 about New Zealand, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

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.

Graph and download economic data for Harmonized Unemployment Rate: All Persons for New Zealand (DISCONTINUED) (NZLURHARMQDSMEI) from Q1 1986 to Q1 2012 about New Zealand, harmonized, unemployment, and rate.