Hon Steve Maharey
Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment

9 August 2007

Labour force survey results best ever recorded

With labour force participation and employment both at all time highs and the unemployment rate at an equal low of 3.6 percent, this quarter's Household Labour Force Survey results are the best ever recorded, Acting Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today.

"In December 1999 when the Labour Party took office the participation rate was 65.4 percent. Now participation is at its highest rate since the survey began two decades ago with labour force participation at 68.8 percent," said Mr Maharey.

In particular, female participation increased steadily again this quarter to reach an all time high of 62.2 percent.

Both part time and full time employment also increased, leading to the highest level of employment ever recorded. 2,158,000 New Zealanders were employed in the June 2007 quarter, compared to 2,144,000 last quarter.

"The Labour-led government's commitment to upskilling the New Zealand workforce, lifting the quality of employment, and providing more choices for living, caring and working is paying dividends. These fantastic results highlight this commitment."

The unemployment rate in New Zealand also dropped this quarter from 3.7 percent to 3.6 percent – the equal lowest unemployment rate ever recorded.

The survey also showed Maori unemployment was at an all time low at 7.6 percent in the year to March.

"For three years now unemployment in New Zealand has been under four percent. We are the only country in the OECD to achieve such a low unemployment rate over such an extensive period," said Mr Maharey.

ENDS

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