11th February 2005
New Zealand unemployment now lowest in OECD
New Zealand's economy added a record 33,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2004 according to Statistics New Zealand today.
Unemployment fell from 3.8 percent to 3.6 percent.
NZ's jobless rate is now the lowest for any OECD country.
Around 30 percent of companies surveyed in December by the NZ Institute of Economic Research said they planned to hire staff early in 2005. A similar number reported that difficulties recruiting skilled workers were preventing them expanding.
Unemployment by Ethnic Group
| Ethnicity | Unemployment Rate |
| European | 2.3% |
| Maori | 8.9% |
| Pacific Islander | 6.5% |
| Others | 6.5% |
More About NZ Unemployment:
By Ethnic Group, Age Group and Regional
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