February 8 2007
The latest figures show New Zealand's demand for labour remains healthy.
The country's unemployment rate fell slightly from 3.5 percent in the September 2007 quarter to 3.4 percent in the December 2007 quarter.
The labour force participation rate rose to 68.8 percent, the highest recorded since the labour force survey began in 1986.
Unemployment numbers decreased by 2,000, driven by a drop in female unemployment, while male unemployment increased.
In the tables below we have summarised the unemployment figures for different ethnic groups, age groups and regions of New Zealand.
Unemployment by Ethnic Group
| Ethnicity | Unemployment Rate |
| European | 2.3% |
| Maori | 7.3% |
| Pacific People | 4.7% |
| Others | 5.4% |
Unemployment by Region
| Region | Unemployment Rate |
| Northland | 2.7% |
| Auckland | 3.5% |
| Waikato | 3.3% |
| Bay of Plenty | 3.3% |
| Gisborne / Hawkes | 4.5% |
| Taranaki | 2.4% |
| Manawatu/Wanganui | 5.3% |
| Wellington | 2.5% |
| Tasman / Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast | 2.7% |
| Canterbury | 2.7% |
| Otago | 2.9% |
| Southland | 1.6% |
Unemployment by Age-Group
| Age Group | Unemployment Rate |
| 15 - 19 | 12.6% |
| 20 - 24 | 5.0% |
| 25 - 29 | 3.3% |
| 30 - 34 | 2.3% |
| 35 - 39 | 3.2% |
| 40 - 44 | 1.9% |
| 45 - 49 | 1.8% |
| 50 - 54 | 1.6% |
| 55 - 59 | 1.1% |
| 60 - 64 | 1.4% |
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Other Figures:
Unemployment September 2006.
Unemployment November 2005.
Unemployment May 2005.
Unemployment February 2005.
Unemployment June 2004.