Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group was 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand, 1981–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand stood at 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.4% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand peaked at 11.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 1981.
That places New Zealand 26th out of 37 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 1990 | 8.02 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +152.0% |
| 1991 | 11.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +39.6% |
| 1992 | 10.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.5% |
| 1995 | 5.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -48.3% |
| 1997 | 6.61 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +23.5% |
| 1998 | 7.71 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 6.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.1% |
| 2000 | 5.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.0% |
| 2001 | 5.03 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 5.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 4.92 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 4 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -18.7% |
| 2005 | 3.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -8.5% |
| 2006 | 3.5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 3.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 4.14 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +22.4% |
| 2009 | 5.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +36.8% |
| 2010 | 6.7 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +18.3% |
| 2011 | 5.91 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.8% |
| 2012 | 6.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +13.9% |
| 2013 | 6.82 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 5.47 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -19.7% |
| 2015 | 5.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 5.36 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 4.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -20.2% |
| 2018 | 3.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 3.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 4.19 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.9% |
| 2021 | 3.6 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -14.1% |
| 2022 | 3.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.7% |
| 2023 | 3.32 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 4.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +20.7% |
| 2025 | 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +18.4% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, 72% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +152.0% | 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.02 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.97 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.35 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 11.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 2000s | 4.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.38 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.66 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.41 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.58 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.82 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 23 Ireland 5.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 24 Hungary 5.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 25 Germany 4.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 27 United States of America 4.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 28 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 4.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 29 Israel 3.91 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup 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 rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand?
- Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in New Zealand was 4.75 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 11.2 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.18 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 1981.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group?
- New Zealand ranks 26th out of 37 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on unemployment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the unemployment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.