Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 70.5 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in New Zealand is 70.5, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in New Zealand peaked at 72.09 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 63.29, in 1993.
That places New Zealand 37th out of 210 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 66.69 | — |
| 1987 | 66.34 | -0.5% |
| 1988 | 64.85 | -2.3% |
| 1989 | 63.6 | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 63.85 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 63.81 | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 63.35 | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 63.29 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 64.11 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 64.73 | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 65.59 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 65.46 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 65.03 | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 65.11 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 65.23 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 65.79 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 66.51 | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 66.3 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 66.9 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 67.68 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 68.18 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 68.37 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 68.27 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 67.91 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 67.63 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 67.88 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 67.59 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 67.76 | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 68.69 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 68.78 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 69.97 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 70.92 | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 70.91 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 70.55 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 70.25 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 70.8 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 71.34 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 72.09 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 71.26 | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 70.5 | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.37 | 63.6 | 66.69 | 4 |
| 1990s | 64.43 | 63.29 | 65.59 | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.11 | 65.23 | 68.37 | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.07 | 67.59 | 70.92 | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.04 | 70.25 | 72.09 | 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 labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in New Zealand?
- Labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in New Zealand was 70.5 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 72.09 in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.29 in 1993.
- How does New Zealand rank for labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- New Zealand ranks 37th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.