12th May 2005
There are some signs in today's unemployment figures that the economy may be cooling. To the surprise of the markets, unemployment rose in the March quarter from 3.6 to 3.9 percent. Hours worked fell 1.8 percent from the high of December 2004.
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 exceptionally good for Europeans aged 60 - 64 in Nelson / Tasman / Marlborough / West Coast regions of the South Island. At the other extreme, the employment picture does not look so good for young Maori in Wellington.
Unemployment by Ethnic Group
Ethnicity |
Rate |
European |
3.1% |
Maori |
8.8% |
Pacific Islander |
6.7% |
Others |
7.9% |
Unemployment by Region
Region |
Rate |
Northland |
4.2% |
Auckland |
4.2% |
Waikato |
4.2% |
Bay of Plenty |
4.6% |
Gisborne / Hawkes |
4.4% |
Taranaki |
3.6% |
Manawatu/Wanganui |
4.6% |
Wellington |
4.8% |
Canterbury |
3.9% |
Otago |
4.5% |
Southland |
3.5% |
Rest of South Island |
2.7% |
Unemployment by Age-Group
Age Group |
Rate |
15 - 19 |
14.2% |
20 - 24 |
8.2% |
25 - 29 |
5.0% |
30- 34 |
3.1% |
35 - 39 |
3.1% |
40 - 44 |
2.0% |
45 - 49 |
2.4% |
50 - 54 |
3.1% |
55 - 59 |
2.0% |
60 - 64 |
1.8% |
More Figures:
Unemployment September 2006.
Unemployment November 2005.
Unemployment May 2005.
Unemployment February 2005.
Unemployment June 2004.
