NZ unemployment rate unchanged at 6.5 pct

NZPA

Thursday 4th August 2011

New Zealand's unemployment rate was unchanged in the June quarter at 6.5 percent, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.

Figures out today show the seasonally adjusted number of people employed edged up by 1000 in the June quarter to 2.21 million, while the number unemployed was unchanged at 154,000.

Although the quarterly change in employment was small, there was a large 43,000 annual increase in employment, with full time employment up 26,000 and part time up 17,000, SNZ said today.

While the total unemployment rate did not change, the male rate rose to 6.4 percent from 6.2 percent, as the female rate fell to 6.6 percent from 6.9 percent.

Actual hours worked for the June quarter rose 1.6 percent, while usual hours worked lifted 0.6 percent.

The labour force participation rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 68.4 percent over the quarter, while over the year it rose 0.3 percentage points.

The number of people not in the labour force rose 1.4 percent over the quarter to 1.1m and was up 0.3 percent for the year.

In annual unadjusted terms, key labour market outcomes for the June year were different in the earthquake-hit Canterbury region than for the country as a whole, SNZ said.

Employment fell in Canterbury but rose nationally, while unemployment rose in Canterbury but fell nationally.

A 1.3 percent annual fall in hours worked in Canterbury was consistent with movements in the region's labour market, SNZ said.

Employment in Canterbury fell by 5200 for males and 7100 for females for the year to June, with female unemployment rising from 6600 to 11,700, while male unemployment fell from 10,200 to 8100.

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