10th November 2006
The latest figures show New Zealand's demand for labour remains healthy but not quite as strong as 12 months ago, when unemployment reached record lows.
The country's unemployment rate rose slightly from 3.6 percent in the June quarter to 3.8 percent in the September quarter.
In annual terms, employment growth remained strong at 1.5 percent.
Decreasing numbers of women in full- and part-time work was responsible for this quarter's increase in this quarter's unemployment.
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 | 2.7% |
| Maori | 7.6% |
| Pacific Islander | 5.1% |
| Others | 5.8% |
Unemployment by Region
| Region | Unemployment Rate |
| Northland | 5.2% |
| Auckland | 3.8% |
| Waikato | 3.5% |
| Bay of Plenty | 3.9% |
| Gisborne / Hawkes | 4.6% |
| Taranaki | 3.5% |
| Manawatu/Wanganui | 3.8% |
| Wellington | 3.7% |
| Canterbury | 2.9% |
| Otago | 3.4% |
| Southland | 2.8% |
| Rest of South Island | 3.2% |
Unemployment by Age-Group
| Age Group | Unemployment Rate |
| 15 - 19 | 13.0% |
| 20 - 24 | 6.8% |
| 25 - 29 | 4.3% |
| 30 - 34 | 3.0% |
| 35 - 39 | 2.5% |
| 40 - 44 | 1.8% |
| 45 - 49 | 2.1% |
| 50 - 54 | 1.8% |
| 55 - 59 | 2.1% |
| 60 - 64 | 2.0% |
Other Figures:
Unemployment September 2006.
Unemployment November 2005.
Unemployment May 2005.
Unemployment February 2005.
Unemployment June 2004.
