Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand

New Zealand: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
Change on year
down 19.6%
World rank
25th
of 38 countries
All-time high
33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 2008
All-time low
17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
in 1992
Years of data
40
1986–2025

Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand, 1986–2025

01020301986200520251986: 30.1 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1987: 28.8 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1988: 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1989: 26.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1990: 22.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1991: 20.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1992: 17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1993: 17.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1994: 18.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1995: 21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1996: 23.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1997: 24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1998: 24.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup1999: 22.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2000: 23.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2001: 25.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2002: 26.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2003: 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2004: 28.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2005: 28.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2006: 29.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2007: 28.8 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2008: 33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2009: 29.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2010: 28.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2011: 27.1 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2012: 25.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2013: 25.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2014: 26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2015: 25.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2016: 23.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2017: 22.2 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2018: 23.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2019: 23.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2020: 29.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2021: 25.3 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2022: 26.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2023: 27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2024: 25.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup2025: 20.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup for incidence of unemployment by duration in 2025.

That represents a change of down 19.6% on the previous year and down 18.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand peaked at 33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2008 and was at its lowest, 17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1992.

New Zealand ranks 25th of 38 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.

Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand, 1986 to 2025.
Year Percentage of population in the same subgroup Change
1986 30.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup
1987 28.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -4.3%
1988 28.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -0.7%
1989 26.33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -7.9%
1990 22.28 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -15.4%
1991 20.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -7.1%
1992 17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -15.0%
1993 17.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +0.7%
1994 18.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +3.7%
1995 21.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +14.5%
1996 23.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +11.8%
1997 24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +2.0%
1998 24.32 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +1.4%
1999 22.89 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -5.9%
2000 23.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +3.2%
2001 25.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +7.0%
2002 26.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +4.5%
2003 28.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +8.5%
2004 28.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -0.2%
2005 28.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +0.4%
2006 29.49 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +2.8%
2007 28.82 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -2.3%
2008 33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +14.5%
2009 29.65 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -10.2%
2010 28.92 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -2.5%
2011 27.09 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -6.3%
2012 25.63 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -5.4%
2013 25.4 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -0.9%
2014 25.96 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +2.2%
2015 25.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -2.7%
2016 23.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -7.0%
2017 22.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -5.6%
2018 23.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +5.9%
2019 23.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +1.0%
2020 29.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +24.0%
2021 25.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -13.8%
2022 26.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +5.4%
2023 27.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup +1.2%
2024 25.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -5.3%
2025 20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup -19.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 28.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 26.33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 30.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 4
1990s 21.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 24.32 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 10
2000s 28.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 23.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 10
2010s 25.11 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 22.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 28.92 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 10
2020s 25.78 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 29.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup 6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 22 Germany 21.88 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
  2. 23 Costa Rica 21.59 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
  3. 24 Spain 21.46 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
  4. 26 Portugal 19.76 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
  5. 27 Czechia 18.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
  6. 28 Switzerland 17.89 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare

See the full ranking of 52 places →

More work & labour data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand?
Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand was 20.57 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2008.
What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 17.6 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1992.
How does New Zealand rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
New Zealand ranks 25th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.6%. 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 Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Incidence of unemployment by duration in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/incidence-of-unemployment-by-duration/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Incidence of unemployment by duration
Unit
Percentage of population in the same subgroup
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
52 places, 1,845 data points, 1968–2025
Last refreshed

This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in 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.