Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 108.05 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand is 108.05, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and down 12.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand peaked at 123.33 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 84.67, in 2022.
That places New Zealand 31st out of 61 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 107.72 | — |
| 2015 | 123.33 | +14.5% |
| 2016 | 111.65 | -9.5% |
| 2017 | 99.75 | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 107.85 | +8.1% |
| 2019 | 95.8 | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 102.7 | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 90.12 | -12.2% |
| 2022 | 84.67 | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 90.1 | +6.4% |
| 2024 | 100.55 | +11.6% |
| 2025 | 108.05 | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 107.68 | 95.8 | 123.33 | 6 |
| 2020s | 96.03 | 84.67 | 108.05 | 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 potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand?
- Potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) in New Zealand was 108.05 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 123.33 in 2015.
- What is the lowest potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.67 in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- New Zealand ranks 31st out of 61 countries with data for 2025.
- Is potential labour force (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Potential labour force (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (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 includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.