Figures and sources
New Zealand job, pay and tax figures, with sources
The 82 figures about work in New Zealand that jobtracker.co.nz and its tools use: the labour market, Jobseeker Support numbers and rates, earnings, tax rates and thresholds, leave and holidays, employer subsidies, worker turnover, and contractor tax and GST. Each one names the published source it came from, when we last read that source, and when we read it again. Free to read and to quote, with the source.
Every value is as the source publishes it, on the date in the Last checked column. A figure that changes on a known day (a new tax year, a benefit rate from 1 April) is read again then; the Next review column says when. Where a figure is a rule rather than a number, the value is the rule in a few words. For the series over time, see New Zealand work in numbers.
| Figure | Value | What it is | Source | Last checked | Next review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Unemployed people | 171,000 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Underutilisation rate | 13.8% | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Underutilised people | 440,000 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Employed | 2,905,000 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Working-age population | 4,353,000 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Participation rate | 70.7% | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Employment rate | 66.7% | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Average ordinary-time hourly earnings | $44.62 an hour | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Labour Cost Index, all sectors | 1,459 | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Unemployed 6 months or more | 69,300 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Youth unemployment, 15 to 24 | 17.3% | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Underutilised, 15 to 24 | 180,200 people | Labour market, Stats NZ | Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI) | 9 September 2026 | 4 November 2026 |
| Jobseeker Support recipients | 218,481 people | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Work Ready | 120,300 people | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| People under work obligations | 350,466 people | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Obligation failures per quarter | 22,128 | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Sanctions per quarter | 12,810 | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| On Jobseeker more than a year | 62.6% | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Jobseeker with a psychological or psychiatric condition recorded | 49,056 people | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Benefit exits to work, March peak | 9,477 people | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Highest regional Jobseeker share of working age | 12% | Benefit caseload, MSD | MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update | 9 September 2026 | 1 October 2026 |
| Median wage and salary income | $61,958 a year | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Individuals with wage or salary income | 2,840,300 people | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Median wage and salary income, 2019 | $42,580 a year | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Percentile of a $50,000 income | 40 percentile | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Percentile of a $60,000 income | 48 percentile | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Percentile of an $80,000 income | 66 percentile | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Percentile of a $100,000 income | 78 percentile | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| Percentile of a $150,000 income | 93 percentile | Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue | IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals | 31 August 2026 | 30 June 2027 |
| PAYE brackets | 10.5% to $15,600; 17.5% to $53,500; 30% to $78,100; 33% to $180,000; 39% over | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| ACC earner levy | 1.75% | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| ACC liable earnings cap | $156,641 a year | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Student loan repayment rate | 12% | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Student loan repayment threshold | $24,128 a year | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| KiwiSaver default employee contribution | 3.5% | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Adult minimum wage | $23.95 an hour | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Starting-out and training minimum wage | $19.16 an hour | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Independent earner tax credit | $24,000 to $70,000; $10 a week to $66,000, then reduced 13c a dollar; $520 a year at most | Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue | 24 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Annual leave | 4 weeks on each anniversary, after 12 months | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Sick leave | 10 days a year after 6 months, carried to at most 20, never paid out | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Bereavement leave | 3 days immediate family, 1 day others, after 6 months | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Family violence leave | Up to 10 days a year, after 6 months | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Public holidays | Up to 12; time and a half plus an alternative day if an otherwise working day | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Leaving before annual leave is due | 8% of gross earnings | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces the Holidays Act | 6 August 2028 | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Parental leave payment worked out on 100% of recent gross weekly earnings | 1 July 2027 | Employment law: leave and holidays | Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed | 24 September 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Jobseeker, single 25+ | gross $426.12, net $372.55 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Jobseeker, single 20 to 24 | gross $367.88, net $324.50 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Jobseeker, single 18 to 19, living with parents | gross $309.65, net $276.46 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Jobseeker, sole parent | gross $606.69, net $521.52 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Jobseeker, couple total, no children | gross $717.50, net $633.94 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Jobseeker, couple total, with children | gross $760.48, net $669.40 (NZD/week) | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Income you can earn before abatement | $160 a week before tax | Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax | Work and Income | 10 September 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Flexi-wage | $11,277 maximum | Employer subsidies, Work and Income | Work and Income, employer subsidies and job seeker grants | 3 October 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Mana in Mahi | $16,000 maximum | Employer subsidies, Work and Income | Work and Income, employer subsidies and job seeker grants | 3 October 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Transition to Work | $1,500 in a 52-week period | Employer subsidies, Work and Income | Work and Income, employer subsidies and job seeker grants | 3 October 2026 | 1 July 2027 |
| Worker turnover, all industries, Jun-25 quarter | 14.1 % of filled jobs | Worker turnover and job starts (LEED) | Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004 | 10 September 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| Worker turnover, four-quarter mean | 12.88% | Worker turnover and job starts (LEED) | Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004 | 10 September 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| Jobs started, Jun-25 quarter | 336,600 accessions | Worker turnover and job starts (LEED) | Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004 | 10 September 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| Total filled jobs, Jun-25 quarter | 2,341,640 jobs | Worker turnover and job starts (LEED) | Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004 | 10 September 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| Highest turnover industry | 26.8% | Worker turnover and job starts (LEED) | Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004 | 10 September 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| GST rate | 15% | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| GST registration threshold | $60,000 a 12 months | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Six-monthly GST filing allowed below | $500,000 a 12 months | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Payments basis allowed up to | $2,000,000 a year | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| GST return and payment due | 28th of the month after the period; 7 May for a period ending 31 March; 15 January for one ending 30 November | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| GST101A return boxes 5 to 15 | 5 sales incl GST; 6 zero-rated; 7 = 5 - 6; 8 = 7 x 3/23; 9 adjustments; 10 = 8 + 9; 11 purchases incl GST; 12 = 11 x 3/23; 13 credit adjustments; 14 = 12 + 13; 15 difference | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Provisional tax applies: residual income tax over | $5,000 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Standard option uplift on last year's residual income tax | 5% | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Standard and estimation instalments, 31 March balance date | 28 August, 15 January, 7 May | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| End-of-year (terminal) tax due | 7 February (7 April with a tax agent's extension) | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Standard option, residual income tax under: interest only from the day after the end-of-year due date | $60,000 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| ACC earners' levy 2026/27, before GST | $1.52 per $100 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| ACC work levy by classification unit 2026/27 | Schedule 2, 537 units, per $100 before GST (e.g. 78340 computer systems design $0.02; 42420 carpentry $1.76) | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Working Safer levy, self-employed | $0.08 per $100 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Student loan interim repayments when the end-of-year repayment is at least | $1,000 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| KiwiSaver government contribution per dollar contributed | 25% | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| KiwiSaver government contribution, most a year | $260.72 a year | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| No government contribution over taxable income of | $180,000 a year | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Schedular rate chosen on the IR330C, at least | 10% | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
| Low-value asset threshold (depreciation) | $1,000 | Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27 | Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016 | 10 October 2026 | 1 April 2027 |
Where the figures come from
- Labour market, Stats NZ: 13 figures, from Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (HLFS, QES, LCI), last checked 9 September 2026
- Benefit caseload, MSD: 9 figures, from MSD benefit fact sheets and monthly benefits update, last checked 9 September 2026
- Earnings distribution, Inland Revenue: 8 figures, from IRD, Wage and salary distributions for individuals, last checked 31 August 2026
- Tax, levies and thresholds, 2026/27: 9 figures, from Inland Revenue, last checked 24 September 2026
- Employment law: leave and holidays: 8 figures, from Employment New Zealand; the Employment Leave Act 2026 as passed, last checked 24 September 2026
- Benefit rates from 1 April 2026, gross and after tax: 7 figures, from Work and Income, last checked 10 September 2026
- Employer subsidies, Work and Income: 3 figures, from Work and Income, employer subsidies and job seeker grants, last checked 3 October 2026
- Worker turnover and job starts (LEED): 5 figures, from Stats NZ, Linked Employer-Employee Data, LEED_Q1W_004, last checked 10 September 2026
- Contractor tax, GST, provisional tax and ACC levies, 2026/27: 20 figures, from Inland Revenue; Accident Compensation (Earners' Levy) and (Work Account Levies) Regulations 2025; Health and Safety at Work (Rates of Funding Levy) Regulations 2016, last checked 10 October 2026
How to cite a figure
Cite the source named beside the figure, with its date, rather than this page: the source is the authority and this page is where we keep what we read there. Each row has its own address, so a link to a row (the address of this page followed by the row's #id) opens the table at that figure. The same figures drive the take-home pay on every job in Your Job Hunt, the free calculators and the Tax and GST page in Your Timesheets, so a change here is a change everywhere on the site.