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Change indicator
70.7%up 0.3 points from Q1 2026Q2 2026 · released 5 Aug 2026
New Zealand unchangedAustralia +2.5 ptsover 10 years
Compare with: Australia
No comparison
By region
Asia-Pacific5
AustraliaJapanMalaysiaSingaporePhilippines
Europe22
GermanyFranceUnited KingdomNetherlandsEstoniaIrelandLatviaSloveniaCroatiaCzechiaLithuaniaPortugalAustriaDenmarkFinlandLuxembourgNorwaySwedenSpainPolandItalyBelgium
Middle East1
Saudi Arabia
North America3
CanadaUnited StatesMexico
South America2
ChileColombia

Key data points

Last release
5 Aug 2026
Observation period
Q2 2026
Next release
3 Nov 2026, 21:45 UTC
Previous
70.4% Q1 2026
Highest
72.4% Q2 2023
Lowest
63.0% Q1 1993
A year ago
70.5%
Data since
1986

Indicator info

Category
Labour
Source
Stats NZ
Frequency
Quarterly
Units
Percent

The share of the working-age population that is working or looking for work.

Unemployment rateQ2 20265.6%GDP growth rateQ2 20262.6%GDPQ2 2026114.92B NZDExportsAug 20266.66B NZD

Reports

Released 5 Aug 202670.7%Q2 2026
Next release, 21:45 UTC3 Nov 2026Q3 2026

History

PeriodValueChange
Q2 202670.7%+0.3
Q1 202670.4%−0.1
Q4 202570.5%+0.2
Q3 202570.3%−0.2
Q2 202570.5%−0.2
Q1 202570.7%−0.1
Q4 202470.8%−0.3
Q3 202471.1%−0.5
Q2 202471.6%+0.1
Q1 202471.5%−0.3
Q4 202371.8%−0.2
Q3 202372.0%−0.4
Q2 202372.4%

Common questions

What is the labour force participation rate in New Zealand now?

The labour force participation rate in New Zealand was 70.7% in Q2 2026, up 0.3 points from Q1 2026. The figure was released on 5 Aug 2026.

When is the next labour force participation rate release for New Zealand?

The next release is scheduled for 3 Nov 2026, 21:45 UTC, covering Q3 2026.

What are the highest and lowest values of the labour force participation rate in New Zealand?

In data since 1986, the highest was 72.4% in Q2 2023 and the lowest was 63.0% in Q1 1993.

Where does this data come from?

Published by Stats NZ, and shown here exactly as published. Publishers revise figures, and the latest published figure replaces the earlier one.

Source
Stats NZ
Economics methodology →
API
GET /v1/economics/NZL/labour-force-participation
Economics API →