New Zealand Unemployment Rate 6.5 Percent

In New Zealand, the number of people unemployed reached its highest level in 15 years, while the unemployment rate hit a nine-year high. Employment continued to decline in the September 2009 quarter.

Unemployment increased by 12,000 (9.0 percent) during the September 2009 quarter, to reach 150,000, the highest level since the March 1994 quarter. This increase was largely driven by male unemployment, which rose by 9,000. During the quarter, the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points, to reach 6.5 percent – the highest level since the March 2000 quarter.

Employment fell by 17,000 (0.8 percent) during the September 2009 quarter and was driven by a decrease in male full-time employment. This decrease was partly offset by an increase in female employment during the quarter.

The labour force participation rate fell by 0.4 percentage points during the quarter, to 68.0 percent. The total number of actual hours worked decreased by 0.7 percent during the quarter. The (unadjusted) working-age population continued to grow during the September 2009 quarter, partly due to positive net permanent and long-term migration.