Employment in New Zealand

Because the economic situation is changing daily, our information is also subject to change.

At the end of September 2020, New Zealand had:

• 2,709,000 employed
• 151,000 unemployed people.

Increase in unemployment in September

September 2020 had the largest quarterly increase in unemployment since this statistical series began in 1986. The unemployment rate rose to 5.3%.

Over the year to September 2020, filled job numbers declined in:

• accommodation and food services
• wholesale trade
• professional, scientific, technical, and administrative support services

Filled job numbers increased in:

• construction
• healthcare and social assistance
• education and training.

Hours worked return to near pre-lockdown levels

The number of hours worked in the September 2020 quarter rose 9.4% from the previous quarter and were nearly back to pre-lockdown levels.

In the June quarter, hours worked had fallen by 10.2% from the quarter before.

Weekly survey shows continued job growth in December

According to Stats NZ's experimental weekly series, paid jobs were up 26,980 or 1.19% in the week ended 6 December 2020. This included:

• primary industries – up 2,790 or 2.45%
• industries which produce goods – up 2,820 or 0.66%
• services industries – up 20,420 or 1.22%

Earlier in the year, paid jobs for most industries had declined.

• Stats NZ website - about Stats NZ’s weekly survey

• Stats NZ, 'Employment Indicators: Weekly as at 11 January 2121', 14 January 2021, (www.stats.govt.nz).
• Stats NZ, 'Employment Rate', 4 November 2020, (www.stats.govt.nz).
• Stats NZ, 'Labour Market Statistics: September 2020 quarter', 4 November 2020 (www.stats.govt.nz).