Unemployment highest in more than a decade

Luxon’s Choices Cost Kiwis Their Jobs

Unemployment is now 5.4 percent, the highest level in over a decade. There are 165,000 New Zealanders who want a job and can’t get one - and Christopher Luxon's policies are to blame.

Unemployment highest in more than a decade

Unemployment rose to its highest level in more than a decade, with more people chasing work than jobs created, while wage growth slowed further.

Unemployment rate highest in a decade as it rises to 5.4%

Worse than expected, the unemployment rate rose to its highest level since 2015.

Unemployment at 10-year high

Unemployment data released by Stats NZ today shows that working people are bearing the cost of the Government’s economic mismanagement, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey. “Unemployment has risen to levels we haven’t seen in a decade. 164,000 people are now unemployed, up 39,000 in just two years. There are 7,600 more young people unemployed than a year ago.” “The Government has no plan to tackle this growing emergency. Instead of…

Higher Participation Drives Unemployment Increase

New Zealand’s unemployment rate rose to 5.4 percent in the December 2025 quarter, reaching its highest level in nine years as increased labour force...

Labour market statistics: December 2025 quarter

The unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in the December 2025 quarter, compared with 5.3 percent in the September 2025 quarter.