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 15.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, 1986–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand stood at 15.8%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.8% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand peaked at 21.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 1986.
New Zealand ranks 61st of 157 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 7.9% | — |
| 1987 | 8.7% | +9.3% |
| 1988 | 12.0% | +38.4% |
| 1989 | 14.6% | +21.8% |
| 1990 | 15.3% | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 21.3% | +39.0% |
| 1992 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 19.2% | -9.4% |
| 1994 | 16.1% | -16.4% |
| 1995 | 12.4% | -23.2% |
| 1996 | 12.8% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 13.8% | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 16.1% | +16.7% |
| 1999 | 15.2% | -5.4% |
| 2000 | 14.6% | -4.4% |
| 2001 | 12.3% | -15.3% |
| 2002 | 11.8% | -4.2% |
| 2003 | 10.3% | -12.6% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -13.6% |
| 2005 | 9.4% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 9.5% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 10.0% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +14.1% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | +37.1% |
| 2010 | 16.3% | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 17.1% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 17.0% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 15.0% | -11.8% |
| 2014 | 13.5% | -10.1% |
| 2015 | 13.9% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 12.6% | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 12.6% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | -11.3% |
| 2020 | 12.2% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | -11.0% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | -10.8% |
| 2023 | 10.9% | +12.9% |
| 2024 | 14.5% | +32.7% |
| 2025 | 15.8% | +8.8% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 15.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 1.1× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 15.8% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.3%, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.8% | 7.9% | 14.6% | 4 |
| 1990s | 16.3% | 12.4% | 21.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.4% | 8.9% | 15.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.2% | 11.1% | 17.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 9.7% | 15.8% | 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 15.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 21.3% 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 7.9% in 1986.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- New Zealand ranks 61st out of 157 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 14.0%. 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.