Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 15.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand is 15.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand peaked at 21.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 2004.
New Zealand ranks 76th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 21.2% | — |
| 1992 | 21.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 19.2% | -9.2% |
| 1994 | 16.1% | -16.3% |
| 1995 | 12.3% | -23.1% |
| 1996 | 12.9% | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | +7.3% |
| 1998 | 16.0% | +16.0% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 14.5% | -4.5% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -15.3% |
| 2002 | 11.8% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 10.3% | -12.5% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -13.3% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 11.8% | +17.8% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | +37.0% |
| 2010 | 17.1% | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 18.5% | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 17.6% | -4.8% |
| 2013 | 15.0% | -14.9% |
| 2014 | 13.5% | -9.8% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 12.3% | +10.2% |
| 2021 | 10.8% | -12.0% |
| 2022 | 9.6% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 10.8% | +12.7% |
| 2024 | 14.4% | +33.1% |
| 2025 | 15.0% | +3.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 15.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 15.0% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.8%, 1.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 16.4% | 12.3% | 21.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.5% | 8.9% | 16.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.5% | 11.1% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.2% | 9.6% | 15.0% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand was 15.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 1991.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 2004.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- New Zealand ranks 76th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.