Monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand
New Zealand: Monthly unemployment rates was 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand, 1956–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup for monthly unemployment rates in 2025.
The figure is up 11.1% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand peaked at 10.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1992 and was at its lowest, 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1956.
That places New Zealand 17th out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1957 | 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1958 | 0.1193 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1959 | 0.1172 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.8% |
| 1960 | 0.1156 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.4% |
| 1961 | 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -100.0% |
| 1962 | 0.111 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1963 | 0.1087 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.1% |
| 1964 | 0.1056 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.9% |
| 1965 | 0.102 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 1966 | 0.0985 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 1967 | 0.096 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.6% |
| 1968 | 0.7759 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +708.5% |
| 1969 | 0.286 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -63.1% |
| 1970 | 0.0927 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -67.6% |
| 1971 | 0.183 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +97.4% |
| 1972 | 0.4509 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +146.4% |
| 1973 | 0.1747 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -61.3% |
| 1974 | 0.0838 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -52.0% |
| 1975 | 0.2465 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +194.1% |
| 1976 | 0.3228 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +31.0% |
| 1977 | 0.318 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 1.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +421.3% |
| 1979 | 1.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +17.2% |
| 1980 | 2.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +15.5% |
| 1981 | 3.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +60.6% |
| 1982 | 3.54 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 5.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +60.1% |
| 1984 | 5.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 4.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -27.2% |
| 1986 | 4.17 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 4.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 5.8 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +37.3% |
| 1989 | 7.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +25.4% |
| 1990 | 7.97 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +9.6% |
| 1991 | 10.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +32.9% |
| 1992 | 10.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 9.8 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 8.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -14.8% |
| 1995 | 6.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -22.8% |
| 1996 | 6.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +8.3% |
| 1998 | 7.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +13.2% |
| 1999 | 7.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.1% |
| 2000 | 6.15 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.5% |
| 2001 | 5.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.4% |
| 2002 | 5.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 4.78 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.9% |
| 2004 | 4.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.7% |
| 2005 | 3.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 3.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 3.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 4.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +12.6% |
| 2009 | 5.88 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +46.0% |
| 2010 | 6.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 6.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 6.47 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 5.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 5.42 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 5.4 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 5.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 4.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 4.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 4.1 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 4.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +12.2% |
| 2021 | 3.8 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -17.4% |
| 2022 | 3.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.5% |
| 2023 | 3.77 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +13.5% |
| 2024 | 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +25.8% |
| 2025 | 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0591 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 0.1193 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4 |
| 1960s | 0.1799 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 0.7759 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.5472 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 0.0838 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.64 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 2.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.17 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.69 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.15 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.37 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.1 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.47 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.25 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 14 Romania 6.12 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 15 Portugal 6.04 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 16 Austria 5.68 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 18 OECD 4.92 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 19 Switzerland 4.84 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.83 Percentage of labour force 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 monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand?
- Monthly unemployment rates in New Zealand was 5.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 10.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1992.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1956.
- How does New Zealand rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- New Zealand ranks 17th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.