New Zealand Unemployment Rate stands at 5.60% as of June 2026, up from 5.20% a year earlier. The reading sits in the 57th percentile of its history back to 1986.
| Latest (June 2026) | 5.60% |
| One year ago | 5.20% |
| 10-year range | 3.20% – 5.60% |
| All-time range | 3.20% (2021) – 11.20% (1991) |
| Standing | Highest since 2015 |
| Change over 12 months | +0.4 pts |
| Percentile vs. full history | 57th |
| History | 1986–2026 (484 observations) |
The share of New Zealand's labor force that is out of work and looking for a job. Unemployment is a lagging indicator on the way down but a powerful early signal on the way up: sustained increases from a cycle low have historically been among the most reliable markers of a downturn taking hold. Because labor data is published promptly and revised little, it anchors the growth pillar of most macro frameworks. Data: harmonized unemployment statistics via the OECD.
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<a href="https://www.tacticalassetallocation.com/charts/new-zealand-unemployment-rate/">New Zealand Unemployment Rate — Cambria Chart Lab</a>
Data: download CSV (source: OECD key economic indicators).