Share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand
New Zealand: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 12.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
New Zealand recorded 12.6% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 11.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand peaked at 16.0% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2025.
That places New Zealand 138th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 15.6% | — |
| 1992 | 15.9% | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 16.0% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 16.0% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 16.0% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 15.9% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 15.9% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 15.9% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 15.8% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 15.7% | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 15.6% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 15.4% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 15.2% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 15.0% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 14.8% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 14.5% | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 14.3% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 14.2% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 14.2% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 14.2% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 14.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 14.2% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 14.3% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 14.2% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 14.1% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 14.0% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 13.8% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 13.5% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 13.2% | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 13.1% | -1.3% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | -2.7% |
| 2025 | 12.6% | -1.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 12.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 12.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 37% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.9% | 15.6% | 16.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 14.2% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 13.6% | 14.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.2% | 12.6% | 13.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 135 Czechia 13.5% compare
- 136 Netherlands 13.4% compare
- 137 Romania 13.0% compare
- 139 North Macedonia 12.3% compare
- 140 Slovak Republic 11.8% compare
- 141 Guam 11.8% 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in New Zealand was 12.6% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 16.0% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2025.
- How does New Zealand rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- New Zealand ranks 138th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.4%. 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 (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).