Unemployment
Regional differences
Please note: sub-national unemployment data is derived from Census 2006 and differs to the data presented in other parts of the "Unemployment" indicator (which comes from the Household Labour Force Survey), as a result of the difference in the surveys’ scopes, administration methods, timing and sample size.
Unemployment rates among young people aged 15 to 24 vary across different regions of New Zealand.
In 2006, unemployment rates were lowest in the South Island areas of Queenstown-Lakes District (4.3 percent), Westland District (4.4 percent), Kaikoura District (4.7 percent) and Central Otago District (5.5 percent). These are also places with high employment rates.
Unemployment amongst young people aged 15-24 in 2006 was highest in the Bay of Plenty areas of Kawerau District (34 percent) and Opotiki (23.1 percent). These were also places with low employment rates.
North Island districts generally had higher rates of unemployment than South Island districts.
| Age group (years) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Territorial Authority | 15 to 19 | 20 to 24 | 15 to 24 |
| Far North District | 22.2% | 14.2% | 18.7% |
| Whangarei District | 21.2% | 10.7% | 16.4% |
| Kaipara District | 12.8% | 5.9% | 9.8% |
| Rodney District | 12.8% | 5.7% | 9.7% |
| North Shore City | 15.6% | 7.9% | 11.1% |
| Waitakere City | 21.4% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Auckland City | 22.0% | 11.0% | 14.6% |
| Manukau City | 23.6% | 11.8% | 16.9% |
| Papakura District | 22.8% | 11.3% | 17.0% |
| Franklin District | 13.6% | 7.8% | 10.9% |
| Thames-Coromandel District | 11.8% | 7.3% | 9.7% |
| Hauraki District | 18.2% | 9.3% | 14.6% |
| Waikato District | 19.2% | 11.1% | 15.4% |
| Matamata-Piako District | 13.0% | 6.8% | 10.1% |
| Hamilton City | 22.5% | 10.9% | 15.5% |
| Waipa District | 13.0% | 6.0% | 9.7% |
| Otorohanga District | 12.8% | 6.2% | 9.5% |
| South Waikato District | 24.3% | 13.5% | 19.5% |
| Waitomo District | 16.5% | 8.1% | 12.8% |
| Taupo District | 12.7% | 6.6% | 9.7% |
| Western Bay of Plenty District | 19.8% | 10.3% | 16.1% |
| Tauranga City | 17.5% | 7.8% | 12.6% |
| Rotorua District | 21.1% | 11.1% | 16.3% |
| Whakatane District | 21.4% | 17.1% | 19.5% |
| Kawerau District | 38.1% | 28.3% | 34.0% |
| Opotiki District | 28.1% | 16.9% | 23.1% |
| Gisborne District | 19.5% | 13.3% | 16.7% |
| Wairoa District | 18.5% | 15.6% | 17.2% |
| Hastings District | 14.7% | 9.7% | 12.5% |
| Napier City | 15.6% | 8.3% | 12.2% |
| Central Hawke's Bay District | 12.8% | 5.5% | 9.3% |
| New Plymouth District | 16.3% | 8.1% | 12.4% |
| Stratford District | 11.3% | 6.9% | 9.3% |
| South Taranaki District | 13.2% | 9.1% | 11.2% |
| Ruapehu District | 9.4% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| Wanganui District | 22.6% | 12.8% | 18.1% |
| Rangitikei District | 10.4% | 6.3% | 8.3% |
| Manawatu District | 14.5% | 7.7% | 11.6% |
| Palmerston North City | 17.6% | 9.3% | 12.8% |
| Tararua District | 12.3% | 7.1% | 10.0% |
| Horowhenua District | 18.5% | 9.7% | 15.0% |
| Kapiti Coast District | 16.8% | 9.0% | 13.5% |
| Porirua City | 22.8% | 14.0% | 18.3% |
| Upper Hutt City | 17.6% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Lower Hutt City | 20.3% | 9.9% | 14.9% |
| Wellington City | 20.2% | 8.2% | 12.2% |
| Masterton District | 16.6% | 9.3% | 13.4% |
| Carterton District | 12.9% | 5.5% | 9.5% |
| South Wairarapa District | 13.8% | 4.7% | 10.1% |
| Tasman District | 7.8% | 3.9% | 6.1% |
| Nelson City | 14.2% | 6.5% | 10.5% |
| Marlborough District | 8.9% | 4.5% | 6.9% |
| Kaikoura District | 5.5% | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Buller District | 14.2% | 7.1% | 11.1% |
| Grey District | 8.5% | 4.2% | 6.6% |
| Westland District | 6.4% | 2.5% | 4.4% |
| Hurunui District | 9.4% | 4.1% | 7.1% |
| Waimakariri District | 12.5% | 4.9% | 9.5% |
| Christchurch City | 15.8% | 8.4% | 11.6% |
| Selwyn District | 10.1% | 5.0% | 7.7% |
| Ashburton District | 8.5% | 2.7% | 5.7% |
| Timaru District | 14.8% | 6.5% | 11.0% |
| Mackenzie District | 6.4% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| Waimate District | 10.3% | 5.4% | 8.4% |
| Chatham Islands Territory | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Waitaki District | 10.2% | 5.6% | 8.3% |
| Central Otago District | 8.0% | 2.5% | 5.5% |
| Queenstown-Lakes District | 8.1% | 2.5% | 4.3% |
| Dunedin City | 21.3% | 13.8% | 16.8% |
| Clutha District | 9.1% | 4.3% | 6.8% |
| Southland District | 7.6% | 3.5% | 5.6% |
| Gore District | 11.0% | 6.3% | 8.9% |
| Invercargill City | 18.4% | 9.1% | 13.5% |
| Area Outside Territorial Authority | 50.0% | 20.0% | 28.6% |
| Total | 17.8% | 9.4% | 13.3% |
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census.
Note that Census measures differ slightly from Household Labour Force Survey measures (especially at sub-national level) as a result of the difference in the surveys’ scopes, administration methods, timing and sample size.
