New Zealand: Unemployment rate
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
The most recent value is 5.3 percent as of March 2026, a decline compared to the previous value of 5.4 percent. Historically, the average for New Zealand from March 1986 to March 2026 is 5.71 percent. The minimum of 3.2 percent was recorded in December 2007, while the maximum of 11.4 percent was reached in March 1992.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
- Measure: percent
- Source: Statistics New Zealand
| Recent values | New Zealand: Unemployment rate, percent |
|---|---|
| 2026 Mar | 5.3 |
| 2025 Dec | 5.4 |
| 2025 Sep | 5.3 |
| 2025 Jun | 5.2 |
| 2025 Mar | 5.1 |
| 2024 Dec | 5.1 |
| 2024 Sep | 4.9 |
| 2024 Jun | 4.7 |
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Definition: The unemployment rate represents the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
| Related indicators | Latest | Reference | Measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor force | 3.08 | 2025 | million people |
| Unemployment rate | 5.08 | 2025 | percent |
| Female unemployment | 5.28 | 2025 | percent |
| Male unemployment | 4.89 | 2025 | percent |
| Youth unemployment | 14.35 | 2025 | percent |
| Labor force participation | 70.35 | 2025 | percent |
| Labor force: percent female | 47.57 | 2025 | percent |
| Female labor force participation | 66.08 | 2025 | percent |
| Male labor force participation | 74.74 | 2025 | percent |
| Hours worked | 1,751.23 | 2023 | hours |
| Self-employment | 18.86 | 2023 | percent |
| Employment | 2.90 | Q4/2025 | million employed people |
| Unemployment rate | 5.30 | 3/2026 | percent |
| Labor cost | 153.95 | Q2/2025 | index points |