New Zealand's unemployment rate edged up to 5.2% in the June quarter of 2025, slightly above the previous quarter's 5.1% and in line with market expectations. The number of unemployed individuals rose to 158,000, up from 156,000 in March and marking an annual increase of 16,000 people, or 11.1%. Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted labour force participation rate dipped to 70.5% from 70.7% in the previous quarter, indicating a slight contraction in workforce engagement. The underutilisation rate—a broader measure of spare labour capacity—also climbed to 12.8%, up from 12.4% in March and 11.9% a year earlier. These figures suggest growing slack in the labor market, adding pressure on policymakers as economic momentum continues to soften. source: Statistics New Zealand
Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 5.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in New Zealand averaged 5.73 percent from 1985 until 2025, 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 September of 2025.
Unemployment Rate in New Zealand increased to 5.20 percent in the second quarter of 2025 from 5.10 percent in the first quarter of 2025. Unemployment Rate in New Zealand is expected to be 5.20 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 4.70 percent in 2026 and 4.20 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.