Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 5.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand is 5.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 9.8% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand peaked at 9.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 105th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 4.6% | — |
| 1987 | 4.2% | -9.4% |
| 1988 | 5.5% | +30.5% |
| 1989 | 7.0% | +28.2% |
| 1990 | 7.4% | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 9.8% | +31.3% |
| 1992 | 9.7% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 9.0% | -8.0% |
| 1994 | 7.8% | -12.7% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | -17.2% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +9.4% |
| 1998 | 7.6% | +10.9% |
| 1999 | 6.7% | -11.7% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | -10.8% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 5.1% | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | -11.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +41.2% |
| 2010 | 6.5% | +11.2% |
| 2011 | 6.2% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 6.8% | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 6.4% | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 6.1% | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 5.5% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 5.2% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | -14.4% |
| 2019 | 4.4% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +12.7% |
| 2021 | 3.9% | -21.9% |
| 2022 | 3.6% | -8.8% |
| 2023 | 4.0% | +12.8% |
| 2024 | 5.0% | +23.7% |
| 2025 | 5.4% | +9.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 99% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5.4% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.3%, 1.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.3% | 4.2% | 7.0% | 4 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | 6.3% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 3.9% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.8% | 4.4% | 6.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.5% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 102 Afghanistan 5.5% compare
- 103 United Arab Emirates 5.5% compare
- 104 Kazakhstan 5.5% compare
- 106 Austria 5.4% compare
- 107 Barbados 5.4% compare
- 108 Nicaragua 5.3% 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 unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in New Zealand was 5.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 9.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- New Zealand ranks 105th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.