Unemployment Increases to 5.4%

New Zealand’s unemployment rate increased to 5.4% in the December 2025 quarter, up from 5.3% in the previous quarter, with 165,000 people unemployed, an increase of 5,000. Economists had anticipated the rate would remain stable or decrease slightly. This rise marks the highest unemployment level since September 2015. Stats NZ indicated that this quarter saw greater labor market engagement, with both employment and unemployment figures rising.

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