Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand

New Zealand: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 4.91 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
4.91
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
105th
of 188 countries
All-time high
10.67
in 1992
All-time low
3.3
in 2022
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand, 1991–2027

468101991200920271991: 10.61992: 10.71993: 9.81994: 8.41995: 6.51996: 6.31997: 6.91998: 7.71999: 72000: 6.12001: 5.42002: 5.32003: 4.72004: 42005: 3.82006: 3.92007: 3.72008: 4.22009: 6.12010: 6.62011: 6.52012: 6.92013: 5.82014: 5.42015: 5.42016: 5.12017: 4.72018: 4.32019: 4.12020: 4.62021: 3.82022: 3.32023: 3.72024: 4.72025: 5.12026: 5.12027: 4.9

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 4.91 for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand peaked at 10.67 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.3, in 2022.

That places New Zealand 105th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in New Zealand, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 10.61
1992 10.67 +0.5%
1993 9.8 -8.1%
1994 8.35 -14.8%
1995 6.46 -22.7%
1996 6.29 -2.6%
1997 6.86 +9.0%
1998 7.72 +12.6%
1999 7.02 -9.0%
2000 6.13 -12.7%
2001 5.43 -11.4%
2002 5.28 -2.8%
2003 4.75 -10.2%
2004 4 -15.6%
2005 3.81 -4.9%
2006 3.86 +1.3%
2007 3.66 -5.1%
2008 4.17 +13.8%
2009 6.12 +46.9%
2010 6.56 +7.1%
2011 6.49 -1.0%
2012 6.93 +6.8%
2013 5.84 -15.8%
2014 5.43 -7.0%
2015 5.42 -0.2%
2016 5.15 -4.9%
2017 4.74 -8.0%
2018 4.33 -8.5%
2019 4.11 -5.2%
2020 4.59 +11.8%
2021 3.78 -17.8%
2022 3.3 -12.6%
2023 3.73 +13.2%
2024 4.72 +26.5%
2025 5.08 +7.5%
2026 5.11 +0.6%
2027 4.91 -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 8.2 6.29 10.67 9
2000s 4.72 3.66 6.13 10
2010s 5.5 4.11 6.93 10
2020s 4.4 3.3 5.11 8

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 102 Honduras 5.04 compare
  2. 103 Norway 4.95 compare
  3. 104 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.93 compare
  4. 106 Uzbekistan 4.89 compare
  5. 107 Ireland 4.86 compare
  6. 108 Maldives 4.81 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in New Zealand was 4.91 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 10.67 in 1992.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 3.3 in 2022.
How does New Zealand rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
New Zealand ranks 105th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. 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 Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-ilo-modelled-estimates-15/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.