Employer Bulletin | 10 November
- Nov 9, 2025
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 7
In the September 2025 quarter:
the unemployment rate was 5.3%
the employment rate was 66.6%
annual wage inflation was 2.1%
average ordinary time hourly earnings were $43.60.
“The unemployment rate has been over 5% for the last four quarters. The last time that the unemployment rate was 5.3% was in the December 2016 quarter,” labour market spokesperson Jason Attewell says.
There were 160,000 unemployed people in the September 2025 quarter, as measured by the Household Labour Force Survey. Of those who were unemployed, 22,700 (14.5%) had been unemployed for over a year (not seasonally adjusted). Being unemployed for over a year is one measure of long-term unemployment.
In today’s Bulletin:
Lack of consultation and transparency leads to unjustified dismissal
Employee sent away after being “blindsided” at meeting
Authority decides business partnership is not an employment arrangement
Redundancy process unjustified without proper consultation
Employee not disadvantaged by setting of expectations
Eight news updates of interest for employers including: Improving New Zealand’s climate change act; Backing innovation to boost farm productivity; Innovation, technology, and science central to Going for Growth; Indian Commerce Minister makes first official visit to New Zealand; Tech solution for forestry road safety; Unemployment rate at 5.3% in the September 2025 quarter; Active Investor Plus Visa overview, and Negotiations launched for trilateral agreement supporting green trade and investment.
Four bills open for submission
If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.
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