New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 5.7% in the third quarter of 2026 from 5.6% in the previous quarter, exceeding market expectations of 5.5%. This marked the highest reading since Q3 2015, as the number of unemployed people reached 174,000, while the underutilisation rate remained unchanged at 13.8%. The employment rate stood at 66.4%. Most employed people were paid employees working in permanent roles. Over the quarter, the share of part-time workers increased, contributing to declines in both usual and actual hours worked. Annual wage inflation was 2.1%, while average ordinary-time hourly earnings stood at NZ$44.86. source: Statistics New Zealand

Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.70 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 5.60 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in New Zealand averaged 5.73 percent from 1985 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.20 percent in the third quarter of 1991 and a record low of 3.20 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021. This page provides - New Zealand Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. New Zealand Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.70 percent in the third quarter of 2026 from 5.60 percent in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment Rate in New Zealand is expected to be 5.40 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the New Zealand Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.90 percent in 2027 and 4.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-08-04 10:45 PM
Unemployment Rate
Q2 5.6% 5.4% 5.4% 5.4%
2026-11-03 09:45 PM
Unemployment Rate
Q3 5.7% 5.6% 5.5% 5.5%
2027-02-02 09:45 PM
Unemployment Rate
Q4


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 2891.00 2896.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Employment Change -0.10 0.30 percent Sep 2026
Employment Rate 66.40 66.70 percent Sep 2026
Full Time Employment 2287.00 2304.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Participation Rate 70.40 70.60 percent Sep 2026
Labour Costs Index 1458.00 1450.00 points Jun 2026
Part Time Employment 605.00 590.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Population 5.34 5.31 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 1391.00 1380.00 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 174.00 171.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.70 5.60 percent Sep 2026
Wages 44.95 44.72 NZD/Hour Sep 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 41.91 41.18 NZD/Hour Sep 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 16.90 17.30 percent Sep 2026


New Zealand Unemployment Rate
In New Zealand, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.70 5.60 11.20 3.20 1985 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
New Zealand Jobless Rate Hits 11-Year High
New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 5.7% in the third quarter of 2026 from 5.6% in the previous quarter, exceeding market expectations of 5.5%. This marked the highest reading since Q3 2015, as the number of unemployed people reached 174,000, while the underutilisation rate remained unchanged at 13.8%. The employment rate stood at 66.4%. Most employed people were paid employees working in permanent roles. Over the quarter, the share of part-time workers increased, contributing to declines in both usual and actual hours worked. Annual wage inflation was 2.1%, while average ordinary-time hourly earnings stood at NZ$44.86.
2026-11-03
New Zealand Jobless Rate Highest Since 2015
New Zealand's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 5.6% in Q2, above both the upwardly revised figure in Q1 and expectations of 5.4%. It was the highest reading since Q3 2015, as businesses continued to face cost pressures from the global energy shock. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 7K from the prior quarter to 171K. At the same time, employment increased by 13K to 2.91 million, bringing the employment rate to 66.7%, unchanged from Q1. The labor force participation rate also rose to 70.7% from 70.4% in Q1 and above expectations of 70.3%, marking the highest level since Q1 2025 and signaling a modest increase in workforce engagement. The underutilisation rate, a broader measure of spare labor, stood at 13.8%, above the 12.9% level in the previous quarter. These figures suggested that labor market slack remained elevated, reflecting higher unemployment, underemployment and untapped labor available for work but not included in the headline unemployment rate.
2026-08-04
New Zealand Jobless Rate Falls Below Forecasts
New Zealand's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched down to 5.3% in the March 2026 quarter, lower than both the previous quarter and market expectations of 5.4%. The latest reading declined from the highest jobless rate since the September 2015 quarter in Q4 of 2025, as the number of unemployed individuals fell by 2,000 from the prior quarter to 163,000. At the same time, employment increased by 4 thousand to 2.89 million during the quarter, bringing the employment rate to 66.7%, unchanged from Q4. The labour force participation rate also edged down to 70.4%, lower than both the previous quarter and market expectations of 70.5%, signaling a modest decline in workforce engagement. The underutilisation rate, a broader measure of spare labour, stood at 12.9%, well above the 12.4% level a year earlier. These figures pointed to mixed signals on labour market slack, suggesting a tentative improvement in overall conditions.
2026-05-05