Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand is 4.9%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand peaked at 11.4% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 2022.
That places New Zealand 96th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.3% | — |
| 1992 | 11.4% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 10.5% | -8.2% |
| 1994 | 8.8% | -16.0% |
| 1995 | 6.4% | -26.7% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 6.9% | +8.4% |
| 1998 | 7.8% | +13.9% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | -14.2% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | -12.5% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | -6.4% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | -13.5% |
| 2004 | 3.6% | -19.6% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 3.6% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 3.4% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +20.2% |
| 2009 | 6.1% | +49.5% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 6.5% | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | -18.5% |
| 2014 | 4.8% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.0% | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 4.8% | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -10.9% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 4.2% | +11.0% |
| 2021 | 3.7% | -13.5% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | +29.2% |
| 2025 | 4.9% | +7.6% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 4.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 99% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 4.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.3%, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.5% | 6.3% | 11.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.4% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.1% | 3.8% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.1% | 4.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in New Zealand was 4.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 11.4% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 2022.
- How does New Zealand rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- New Zealand ranks 96th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.