Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand
New Zealand: Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and was 82.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand, 1981–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand is 82.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand peaked at 84.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2023 and was at its lowest, 68.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1991.
New Zealand ranks 12th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 73.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1990 | 70.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 68.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.6% |
| 1992 | 69.47 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 74.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.7% |
| 1997 | 73.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 72.17 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 73.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 74.66 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 74.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 75.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 75.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 76.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 78.33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 78.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 79.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 79.42 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 77.42 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 75.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 77.25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 76.63 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 76.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 77.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 78.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 80.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 82.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 83.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 83.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 82.17 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 83.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.8% |
| 2022 | 84.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 84.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 84.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 82.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 82.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 73.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 73.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 73.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 1 |
| 1990s | 71.91 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 68.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 74.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 2000s | 77.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 74.66 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 79.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 79.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 75.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 83.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 82.17 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 84.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 9 Norway 84.15 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Ireland 83.99 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 11 Germany 82.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 13 Austria 82.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Canada 82.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 15 Sweden 81.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
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 rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand?
- Employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and in New Zealand was 82.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 84.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2023.
- What is the lowest employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1991.
- How does New Zealand rank for employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and?
- New Zealand ranks 12th out of 37 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. 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 rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on employment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the employment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.