Source: Statistics New Zealand
Unemployment rate at 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter – news story
5 August 2026
New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
In the June 2026 quarter:
- the unemployment rate was 5.6 percent
- the underutilisation rate was 13.8 percent
- the quarterly increase in the number of people employed was 0.5 percent
- annual wage inflation was 2.0 percent, as measured by the labour cost index
- average ordinary time hourly earnings were $44.62, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey.
“The unemployment rate was 5.6 percent in the June 2026 quarter, compared with 5.4 percent in the March 2026 quarter,” labour market spokesperson Abby Johnston said.