Labour market strong New Zealand-wide

New regional labour market reports show New Zealand continues to flourish, Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today. “The quarterly labour market reports show that more people are in paid work compared to this time last year and some regions of New Zealand are experiencing unprecedented growth,” said Mr Maharey.

The key features of the reports were:

• Nationally, the labour force participation rate has risen to rise to 69%, the highest rate recorded since the survey began in 1986. The increase has been caused by the labour force growing by 12,000 people, while the working age population grew by 7,100.
• Regionally, the labour force participation rate grew the most in Taranaki, increasing from 67% in the year to June 2006 to reach 69% in the year to June 2007. This growth was followed by Wellington where the participation rate grew from 69% to reach 71%.
• Strong growth in employment was seen for Bay of Plenty (up 13%) and Waikato (up 9%). The largest decline was for Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay (down 6%), this follows a consistent pattern of employment growth seen in Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay since 2000.
• Annual average employment rates rose in most regions compared with the year before. The largest rise in employment rates was in Taranaki from 65% in the year to June 2006 to 67% in the year to June 2007.
• All regional unemployment rates were below 5%, the highest rate being 5% in Manawatu-Wanganui, and Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay. The lowest annual average unemployment rate was 3% in Southland.
• The Auckland unemployment rate has risen more than in any other region in the past year, from 3% in the year to June 2006 to 4% in the year to June 2007.