Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that the country's unemployment rate has fallen to just four percent. The labour-market is tight and finding a job is the easiest it has been for 17 years.
In the tables below we have summarised how unemployment is distributed between different ethnic groups, age-groups and regions of New Zealand.
At one extreme, the jobs picture looks very good for Europeans aged 50 - 54 in Southland. At the other extreme, the employment picture does not look so good for young Maori or Pacific People in the Bay of Plenty.
Unemployment by Ethnic Group
Ethnicity |
Rate |
European |
3.0% |
Maori |
8.8% |
Pacific Islander |
7.5% |
Others |
5.4% |
Unemployment by Region
Region |
Rate |
Northland |
4.7% |
Auckland |
3.7% |
Waikato |
3.0% |
Bay of Plenty |
4.9% |
Gisborne/Hawkes |
4.0% |
Taranaki |
3.8% |
Manawatu/Wanganui |
4.3% |
Wellington |
4.7% |
Canterbury |
4.0% |
Otago |
4.6% |
Southland |
2.1% |
Rest of South Island |
3.2% |
Unemployment by Age-Group
Age Group |
Rate |
15 - 19 |
14.5% |
20 - 24 |
7.2% |
25 - 29 |
4.0% |
30- 34 |
2.9% |
35 - 39 |
3.4% |
40 - 44 |
2.3% |
45 - 49 |
2.1% |
50 - 54 |
1.9% |
55 - 59 |
2.5% |
60 - 64 |
2.5% |
More Figures:
Unemployment September 2006.
Unemployment November 2005.
Unemployment May 2005.
Unemployment February 2005.
Unemployment June 2004.
