Employment stats

The New Zealand job market right now

Unemployment, underutilisation, pay and hiring, charted from official data and updated every quarter. We publish this because the most useful thing a job hunter can know is what is normal, and nobody was telling them.

Unemployment is 5.6%, the highest since September 2015 quarter. If your hunt is taking longer than the last one, that is the reason. It is a harder market than it was, and that is a fact about the market, not about you.

Where things stand

5.6%
Unemployment rate

171,000 New Zealanders are out of work and looking.

  • Up 0.4 points over the year, from 5.2%.
  • Last this high in September 2015 quarter.
Stats NZ, Household Labour Force Survey · June 2026 quarter · 162 quarters of history
13.8%
Underutilisation

About 440,000 people want more work than they have: unemployed, underemployed, or available but not currently searching.

  • Up 1 points over the year, from 12.8%.
  • Last this high in December 2013 quarter.
Stats NZ, Household Labour Force Survey · June 2026 quarter · 90 quarters of history
44.62
Average hourly pay

Ordinary time across all industries. A sanity check when an ad quotes a rate and you are not sure it is reasonable.

  • Up 1.2 points over the year, from 43.39.
  • The highest in this series, which starts in March 1989 quarter.
Stats NZ, Quarterly Employment Survey · June 2026 quarter · 150 quarters of history
69,300
Looking for 6 months or more

37,600 people have been searching between six months and a year, and 31,700 for more than a year. Long hunts are common right now, and they are not a personal failing.

Stats NZ, HLFS duration of unemployment · June 2026 quarter · checked 2026-08-22
37.0%
Under 25s wanting more work

180,200 people aged 15 to 24 are underutilised, up from 158,600 a year ago. The first job has never been the hard part; right now it is the hardest part.

Stats NZ, Household Labour Force Survey · June 2026 quarter · checked 2026-08-22
218,481
On Jobseeker Support

120,300 are classed Work Ready. The rest have a health condition or disability recorded. Everyone on a benefit with work obligations has to be able to show what they have been doing to find work.

Ministry of Social Development, benefit fact sheets · June 2026 quarter · checked 2026-08-22

Unemployment since 1986

Forty years of context. The peak is the early-1990s recession at 11.2 percent; the trough is the post-lockdown labour shortage at 3.2 percent, when employers could not fill roles. Where we are now is neither, and reading the whole line is more useful than reading one quarter.

0%3%6%9%12%1986199420022010201820262026
New Zealand unemployment rate, quarterly, seasonally adjusted. From 4.2% in March 1986 quarter to 5.6% in June 2026 quarter. Highest 11.2% in September 1991 quarter, lowest 3.2% in December 2021 quarter.
See the numbers
New Zealand unemployment rate, quarterly, seasonally adjusted
QuarterValue
June 2026 quarter5.6%
March 2026 quarter5.4%
December 2025 quarter5.4%
September 2025 quarter5.3%
June 2025 quarter5.2%
March 2025 quarter5.2%
December 2024 quarter5.1%
September 2024 quarter4.9%
June 2024 quarter4.7%
March 2024 quarter4.4%
December 2023 quarter4%
September 2023 quarter3.9%
June 2023 quarter3.7%
March 2023 quarter3.5%
December 2022 quarter3.4%
September 2022 quarter3.3%
June 2022 quarter3.3%
March 2022 quarter3.3%
December 2021 quarter3.2%
September 2021 quarter3.3%
June 2021 quarter4%
March 2021 quarter4.6%
December 2020 quarter4.9%
September 2020 quarter5.2%
June 2020 quarter4.1%
March 2020 quarter4.2%
December 2019 quarter4.1%
September 2019 quarter4.1%
June 2019 quarter4.1%
March 2019 quarter4.2%
December 2018 quarter4.3%
September 2018 quarter4%
June 2018 quarter4.6%
March 2018 quarter4.4%
December 2017 quarter4.5%
September 2017 quarter4.7%
June 2017 quarter4.9%
March 2017 quarter4.9%
December 2016 quarter5.3%
September 2016 quarter5%
June 2016 quarter5.1%
March 2016 quarter5.3%
December 2015 quarter5%
September 2015 quarter5.7%
June 2015 quarter5.5%
March 2015 quarter5.5%
December 2014 quarter5.5%
September 2014 quarter5.3%
June 2014 quarter5.3%
March 2014 quarter5.6%
December 2013 quarter5.7%
September 2013 quarter5.8%
June 2013 quarter6%
March 2013 quarter5.8%
December 2012 quarter6.3%
September 2012 quarter6.7%
June 2012 quarter6.4%
March 2012 quarter6.4%
December 2011 quarter6.1%
September 2011 quarter6%
June 2011 quarter6.1%
March 2011 quarter6%
December 2010 quarter6.2%
September 2010 quarter6.1%
June 2010 quarter6.6%
March 2010 quarter5.9%
December 2009 quarter6.6%
September 2009 quarter6.2%
June 2009 quarter5.8%
March 2009 quarter5%
December 2008 quarter4.4%
September 2008 quarter4.1%
June 2008 quarter3.8%
March 2008 quarter3.8%
December 2007 quarter3.4%
September 2007 quarter3.6%
June 2007 quarter3.6%
March 2007 quarter3.9%
December 2006 quarter3.8%
September 2006 quarter3.9%
June 2006 quarter3.7%
March 2006 quarter4.1%
December 2005 quarter3.7%
September 2005 quarter3.8%
June 2005 quarter3.8%
March 2005 quarter3.9%
December 2004 quarter3.7%
September 2004 quarter3.9%
June 2004 quarter4.2%
March 2004 quarter4.3%
December 2003 quarter4.7%
September 2003 quarter4.5%
June 2003 quarter4.8%
March 2003 quarter5%
December 2002 quarter5.1%
September 2002 quarter5.5%
June 2002 quarter5.3%
March 2002 quarter5.3%
December 2001 quarter5.6%
September 2001 quarter5.4%
June 2001 quarter5.4%
March 2001 quarter5.5%
December 2000 quarter5.8%
September 2000 quarter6%
June 2000 quarter6.3%
March 2000 quarter6.5%
December 1999 quarter6.4%
September 1999 quarter7%
June 1999 quarter7.3%
March 1999 quarter7.5%
December 1998 quarter7.9%
September 1998 quarter7.7%
June 1998 quarter7.9%
March 1998 quarter7.4%
December 1997 quarter7%
September 1997 quarter7%
June 1997 quarter6.8%
March 1997 quarter6.7%
December 1996 quarter6.2%
September 1996 quarter6.5%
June 1996 quarter6.2%
March 1996 quarter6.4%
December 1995 quarter6.4%
September 1995 quarter6.2%
June 1995 quarter6.4%
March 1995 quarter6.8%
December 1994 quarter7.6%
September 1994 quarter8%
June 1994 quarter8.5%
March 1994 quarter9.3%
December 1993 quarter9.4%
September 1993 quarter9.5%
June 1993 quarter10.2%
March 1993 quarter10.1%
December 1992 quarter10.6%
September 1992 quarter10.6%
June 1992 quarter10.5%
March 1992 quarter11%
December 1991 quarter11%
September 1991 quarter11.2%
June 1991 quarter10.5%
March 1991 quarter9.8%
December 1990 quarter8.9%
September 1990 quarter8.1%
June 1990 quarter7.7%
March 1990 quarter7.2%
December 1989 quarter7.3%
September 1989 quarter7.4%
June 1989 quarter7.5%
March 1989 quarter7.1%
December 1988 quarter6.3%
September 1988 quarter6.4%
June 1988 quarter5.5%
March 1988 quarter5%
December 1987 quarter4.4%
September 1987 quarter4.2%
June 1987 quarter4.2%
March 1987 quarter4.1%
December 1986 quarter4.3%
September 1986 quarter4.2%
June 1986 quarter4.1%
March 1986 quarter4.2%

Stats NZ, Household Labour Force Survey, series HLFQ.S1F3S · March 1986 quarter to June 2026 quarter · next release 4 November 2026

The wider measure: underutilisation

Underutilisation counts everyone the unemployment rate misses: people working fewer hours than they want, people available but not actively searching, people who have given up looking for now. It is the honest measure of how much slack there is, and it is always the larger number.

0%4.1%8.2%12.2%16.3%200420082013201720222026
New Zealand underutilisation rate, quarterly, seasonally adjusted. From 10.7% in March 2004 quarter to 13.8% in June 2026 quarter. Highest 15.6% in September 2012 quarter, lowest 8.6% in June 2006 quarter.
See the numbers
New Zealand underutilisation rate, quarterly, seasonally adjusted
QuarterValue
June 2026 quarter13.8%
March 2026 quarter12.9%
December 2025 quarter12.9%
September 2025 quarter12.9%
June 2025 quarter12.8%
March 2025 quarter12.4%
December 2024 quarter12.2%
September 2024 quarter11.7%
June 2024 quarter11.9%
March 2024 quarter11.3%
December 2023 quarter10.8%
September 2023 quarter10.5%
June 2023 quarter10%
March 2023 quarter9.1%
December 2022 quarter9.4%
September 2022 quarter9%
June 2022 quarter9.3%
March 2022 quarter9.4%
December 2021 quarter9.3%
September 2021 quarter9.2%
June 2021 quarter10.5%
March 2021 quarter12.2%
December 2020 quarter11.9%
September 2020 quarter13.1%
June 2020 quarter12.1%
March 2020 quarter10.4%
December 2019 quarter10.1%
September 2019 quarter10.3%
June 2019 quarter11.1%
March 2019 quarter11.3%
December 2018 quarter12.2%
September 2018 quarter11.3%
June 2018 quarter12.1%
March 2018 quarter11.9%
December 2017 quarter12.2%
September 2017 quarter12.1%
June 2017 quarter12%
March 2017 quarter12.3%
December 2016 quarter12.4%
September 2016 quarter12.7%
June 2016 quarter13.1%
March 2016 quarter13.7%
December 2015 quarter12.5%
September 2015 quarter13.7%
June 2015 quarter13.6%
March 2015 quarter13.6%
December 2014 quarter13.3%
September 2014 quarter12.8%
June 2014 quarter13.3%
March 2014 quarter13.2%
December 2013 quarter14%
September 2013 quarter14.1%
June 2013 quarter13.3%
March 2013 quarter13%
December 2012 quarter14.7%
September 2012 quarter15.6%
June 2012 quarter14.7%
March 2012 quarter14.1%
December 2011 quarter13.7%
September 2011 quarter13.6%
June 2011 quarter14.1%
March 2011 quarter14%
December 2010 quarter14%
September 2010 quarter13.9%
June 2010 quarter14.2%
March 2010 quarter13.6%
December 2009 quarter15%
September 2009 quarter14.8%
June 2009 quarter13.7%
March 2009 quarter12.3%
December 2008 quarter11.3%
September 2008 quarter10.5%
June 2008 quarter10%
March 2008 quarter10.3%
December 2007 quarter9.2%
September 2007 quarter9%
June 2007 quarter9.8%
March 2007 quarter9.9%
December 2006 quarter10.4%
September 2006 quarter8.8%
June 2006 quarter8.6%
March 2006 quarter9%
December 2005 quarter9.3%
September 2005 quarter9.1%
June 2005 quarter9.6%
March 2005 quarter9.4%
December 2004 quarter9.9%
September 2004 quarter9.9%
June 2004 quarter10%
March 2004 quarter10.7%

Stats NZ, Household Labour Force Survey, series HLFQ.SXJ3UZS · from 2004

What pay is actually doing

The Labour Cost Index measures what a fixed job pays over time, so it strips out the effect of people changing roles. The unadjusted version, charted here, includes the raises people actually received through promotions and progression, so it is the honest answer to "should I be asking for more?". It is currently running at about 3.1 percent a year.

1000.81220.414401659.61879.2201120142017202020232026
Labour Cost Index, analytical unadjusted, all salary and wage rates. From 1074 in September 2011 quarter to 1806 in June 2026 quarter. Highest 1806 in June 2026 quarter, lowest 1074 in September 2011 quarter.
See the numbers
Labour Cost Index, analytical unadjusted, all salary and wage rates
QuarterValue
June 2026 quarter1806
March 2026 quarter1790
December 2025 quarter1778
September 2025 quarter1764
June 2025 quarter1752
March 2025 quarter1736
December 2024 quarter1721
September 2024 quarter1706
June 2024 quarter1691
March 2024 quarter1668
December 2023 quarter1652
September 2023 quarter1627
June 2023 quarter1605
March 2023 quarter1582
December 2022 quarter1560
September 2022 quarter1538
June 2022 quarter1516
March 2022 quarter1495
December 2021 quarter1476
September 2021 quarter1460
June 2021 quarter1443
March 2021 quarter1427
December 2020 quarter1417
September 2020 quarter1407
June 2020 quarter1395
March 2020 quarter1390
December 2019 quarter1382
September 2019 quarter1369
June 2019 quarter1353
March 2019 quarter1339
December 2018 quarter1330
September 2018 quarter1318
June 2018 quarter1306
March 2018 quarter1295
December 2017 quarter1287
September 2017 quarter1276
June 2017 quarter1264
March 2017 quarter1255
December 2016 quarter1246
September 2016 quarter1234
June 2016 quarter1227
March 2016 quarter1219
December 2015 quarter1212
September 2015 quarter1203
June 2015 quarter1193
March 2015 quarter1185
December 2014 quarter1180
September 2014 quarter1171
June 2014 quarter1164
March 2014 quarter1156
December 2013 quarter1150
September 2013 quarter1142
June 2013 quarter1131
March 2013 quarter1124
December 2012 quarter1117
September 2012 quarter1108
June 2012 quarter1100
March 2012 quarter1091
December 2011 quarter1084
September 2011 quarter1074

Stats NZ, Labour Cost Index, series LCIQ.SV51Z9 · index, June 2009 equals 1000

When people actually move into work

This is how many people came off a benefit because they got a job, month by month. It is the closest thing New Zealand has to an official hiring-seasonality series, and March is the peak in every one of the last five years while December is always the trough. Worth knowing before you conclude that a quiet December says something about you.

Ministry of Social Development, monthly benefits update · july 2026

Where you live changes the odds

The national rate hides a lot. This is the share of each region's working-age population on Jobseeker Support: Northland at 12 percent against Otago at 3.3 percent, a gap of more than three to one. If you are hunting in a harder region, that is worth knowing before you draw conclusions about yourself.

People on Jobseeker Support as a share of the working-age population, by region, Jul 26
RegionSharePeopleYear change
Northland12%13,056+0.4 pts
Gisborne9.5%2,832-0.1 pts
Bay of Plenty8.3%16,551+0.2 pts
West Coast8.2%1,608+0.1 pts
Manawatū-Whanganui7.9%11,667-0.1 pts
Waikato7.7%24,042no change
Hawke's Bay7.3%7,374+0.3 pts
Auckland7%81,267+0.2 pts
Taranaki6.2%4,521no change
Nelson6%1,875+0.1 pts
Wellington6%20,445-0.1 pts
Chatham Islands5.7%21-0.8 pts
Marlborough5.5%1,545+0.2 pts
Southland5.3%3,267no change
Tasman5.1%1,713-0.1 pts
Canterbury4.8%20,595-0.2 pts
Otago3.3%5,364-0.2 pts

Ministry of Social Development, monthly benefits update · july 2026 · counts randomly rounded to base 3

Long hunts are normal now

Of everyone on Jobseeker Support, 62.6 percent have been on it for more than a year (136,704 people), against 37.4 percent for a year or less. A long search is the common case, not a personal failure.

Ministry of Social Development, quarterly benefit fact sheets · june 2026

What this does and does not mean

These are national figures. Your industry, your region and your experience all move the odds, sometimes a long way. A rising unemployment rate does not mean you will not get hired. It means the queue is longer, so the organised candidate wins more often.

There is no official New Zealand figure for how long a job hunt takes. No agency publishes a time-to-hire statistic, so anyone quoting one is guessing. The duration figures above are the honest substitute: how long people currently looking have been looking.

Work out what it means for you

Compare two offers after tax, check what a commute really costs, or track your hunt in one place and see your own funnel against these numbers. Free while you are between work, always.

This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Contains data from the Ministry of Social Development, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.