Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand
New Zealand: Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels was 2,876 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 2,876 Persons for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand peaked at 2,902 Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1,510 Persons, in 1991.
That places New Zealand 35th out of 43 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 1,618 Persons | — |
| 1987 | 1,624 Persons | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 1,572 Persons | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 1,524 Persons | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 1,534 Persons | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 1,510 Persons | -1.6% |
| 1992 | 1,514 Persons | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 1,545 Persons | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 1,612 Persons | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 1,686 Persons | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 1,740 Persons | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 1,750 Persons | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 1,738 Persons | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 1,766 Persons | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 1,799 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 1,845 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 1,904 Persons | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 1,953 Persons | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2,023 Persons | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 2,082 Persons | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 2,132 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 2,169 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 2,176 Persons | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 2,147 Persons | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 2,157 Persons | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 2,188 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 2,184 Persons | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 2,224 Persons | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 2,308 Persons | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 2,369 Persons | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 2,483 Persons | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 2,586 Persons | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 2,651 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 2,689 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 2,718 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 2,772 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 2,813 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 2,902 Persons | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 2,896 Persons | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 2,876 Persons | -0.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 2,876 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 5,016 Persons, 57% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 2,876 Persons is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39,807 Persons, 7% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,584 Persons | 1,524 Persons | 1,624 Persons | 4 |
| 1990s | 1,640 Persons | 1,510 Persons | 1,766 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,023 Persons | 1,799 Persons | 2,176 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,384 Persons | 2,157 Persons | 2,689 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,829 Persons | 2,718 Persons | 2,902 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More work & labour data for New Zealand
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0748 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0721 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0776 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.4877 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,200 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 511.04 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,819 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,994 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,812 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand?
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in New Zealand was 2,876 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 2,902 Persons in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,510 Persons in 1991.
- How does New Zealand rank for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels?
- New Zealand ranks 35th out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels — Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains labour force data on labour market status - population, labour force, unemployment and employment - by sex and by detailed age groups and standard age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+, total). Information for all countries and all LFS subjects may be found in the attached file LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.