New Zealand's unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020, from 5.3 percent in the previous period and compared to market expectations of 5.6 percent. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed people fell by 10 thousand in the December 2020 quarter to 141 thousand. However, the number of unemployed was still 25 thousand higher than it was a year ago. Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted number of employed people rose by 17 thousand. The employment rate increased 0.4 percentage point to 66.8 percent, while the labor force participation rate edged up to 70.2 percent from 70.1 percent. source: Statistics New Zealand

Unemployment Rate in New Zealand averaged 5.95 percent from 1985 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 11.20 percent in the third quarter of 1991 and a record low of 3.40 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007. 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 February of 2021.

Unemployment Rate in New Zealand is expected to be 6.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Unemployment Rate in New Zealand to stand at 5.40 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the New Zealand Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.70 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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New Zealand Unemployment Rate

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.90 5.30 11.20 3.40 1985 - 2020 percent Quarterly


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-05-05 10:45 PM Q1 4.2% 4% 4.3% 4.6%
2020-08-04 10:45 PM Q2 4.0% 4.2% 5.8% 5.8%
2020-11-03 09:45 PM Q3 5.3% 4% 5.4% 5.4%
2021-02-02 09:45 PM Q4 4.9% 5.3% 5.6% 5.4%
2021-05-04 10:45 PM Q1 4.9% 6.5%
2021-08-04 10:45 PM Q2 6.2%
2021-11-03 09:45 PM Q3 5.7%
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
New Zealand Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.9%
New Zealand's unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020, from 5.3 percent in the previous period and compared to market expectations of 5.6 percent. The seasonally adjusted number of unemployed people fell by 10 thousand in the December 2020 quarter to 141 thousand. However, the number of unemployed was still 25 thousand higher than it was a year ago. Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted number of employed people rose by 17 thousand. The employment rate increased 0.4 percentage point to 66.8 percent, while the labor force participation rate edged up to 70.2 percent from 70.1 percent.
2021-02-02
New Zealand Unemployment Rate Climbs to 4-Year High
New Zealand's unemployment rate increased to 5.3 percent in the third quarter of 2020, from 4.0 percent in the previous period and compared to market expectations of 5.4 percent. It was the highest jobless rate since the last quarter of 2016, as the number of unemployed people rose by 37 thousand to 151 thousand, the largest quarterly jump ever as the COVID-19 crisis hit the labor market; while employment dropped by 22 thousand to 2.709 million, the biggest quarterly fall since the March 2009 quarter. Meantime, the underutilization rate rose to 13.2 percent from 12.0 percent. The employment rate fell 0.7 percentage points to 66.4 percent, while the labor force participation rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 70.1 percent.
2020-11-03
New Zealand Jobless Rate Falls to 4% in Q2
New Zealand's unemployment rate fell to 4 percent in the second quarter of 2020 from 4.2 percent in the previous period and well below market expectations of 5.8 percent. The number of unemployed people dropped by 6 thousand to 111 thousand. Meantime, the underutilisation rate rose to 12 percent from 10.4 percent in the first quarter, the largest quarterly rise since the series began in 2004, while hours worked were down by a record 10.3 percent.
2020-08-04
New Zealand Jobless Rate Rises to Over 1-Year High of 4.2%
New Zealand's unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 4.0 percent in the previous period but below market expectations of 4.3 percent. It was the highest jobless rate since the last quarter of 2018, amid the coronavirus crisis as the number of unemployed people increased by 5 thousand to 116 thousand. The unemployment rate for men went up to 4.1 percent from 3.8 percent in the prior quarter, while for women was unchanged at 4.3 percent. Meantime, the underutilisation rate jumped to 10.4 percent from an 11-year low of 10 percent in the December 2019 quarter; and the labour force participation rate increased to 70.4 percent from 70.1 percent.
2020-05-05

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.