Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 5.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand is 5.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.1% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand peaked at 11.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2022.
That places New Zealand 86th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 40 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 3.6% | — |
| 1987 | 4.0% | +12.6% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | +43.8% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +27.4% |
| 1990 | 8.4% | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 11.3% | +34.4% |
| 1992 | 11.4% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | -8.3% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | -15.9% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | -26.6% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 6.8% | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +14.3% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -14.2% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | -13.6% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -19.8% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +17.7% |
| 2009 | 5.9% | +49.1% |
| 2010 | 6.0% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 5.9% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 4.3% | +11.2% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -13.0% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -16.2% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +14.4% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +29.1% |
| 2025 | 5.1% | +11.1% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 5.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.0× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 5.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.5%, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.2% | 3.6% | 7.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 8.5% | 6.3% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5% | 3.4% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.0% | 3.8% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 5.1% | 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand was 5.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- New Zealand ranks 86th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) 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 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, male (% of male 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.