10th November 2005
Figures released today indicate that New Zealand's demand for labour is still strong. The country's unemployment rate fell from 3.6 to 3.4 percent in the September quarter - the lowest since the survey began in 1986.
Increasing numbers of people in full-time work drove employment growth.
Statistics New Zealand says the total labour force grew 21,000 over the quarter, while the number not in the labour force fell by 11,000.
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 employment picture looks exceptionally good for Europeans aged 50 - 54 in the Southland region. At the other extreme, the employment picture does not look so good for young Maori in the Gisborne / Hawkes Bay regions.
Unemployment by Ethnic Group
| Ethnicity | Unemployment Rate |
| European | 2.2% |
| Maori | 9.1% |
| Pacific Islander | 5.0% |
| Others | 4.9% |
Unemployment by Region
| Region | Unemployment Rate |
| Northland | 4.9% |
| Auckland | 2.8% |
| Waikato | 3.6% |
| Bay of Plenty | 3.8% |
| Gisborne / Hawkes | 6.0% |
| Taranaki | 3.6% |
| Manawatu/Wanganui | 4.7% |
| Wellington | 2.8% |
| Canterbury | 2.7% |
| Otago | 3.1% |
| Southland | 1.9% |
| Rest of South Island | 2.9% |
Unemployment by Age-Group
| Age Group | Unemployment Rate |
| 15 - 19 | 12.4% |
| 20 - 24 | 5.0% |
| 25 - 29 | 4.0% |
| 30 - 34 | 2.5% |
| 35 - 39 | 2.5% |
| 40 - 44 | 1.6% |
| 45 - 49 | 2.1% |
| 50 - 54 | 1.5% |
| 55 - 59 | 1.8% |
| 60 - 64 | 1.7% |
Other Figures:
Unemployment September 2006.
Unemployment November 2005.
Unemployment May 2005.
Unemployment February 2005.
Unemployment June 2004.
