Employer Bulletin | 12 May
- May 12, 2025
- 1 min read
Here's what is leading the news for employers this week:
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1% in the March 2025 quarter, unchanged from last quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ last week.
In the March 2025 quarter:
the unemployment rate was 5.1% • the employment rate was 67.2%
annual wage inflation was 2.9%
average ordinary time hourly earnings were $42.79.
“Seasonally adjusted levels of unemployment remained at 156,000 between the December 2024 and March 2025 quarters,” labour market spokesperson Abby Johnston said.
“While unemployment was unchanged over the quarter, longer-term trends mean the labour market appears quite different to the same quarter last year.”
Annually, unemployment rose by 22,000 to 156,000, as measured by the Household Labour Force Survey
In today’s Bulletin:
Employee fails to prove they were coerced to resign
Employer ordered to pay outstanding wages and annual holidays
Failure to adhere to contractual obligations leads to unjustified dismissal
Six news updates of interest for employers including: Unemployment rate remains at 5.1% in the March 2025 quarter; Changes to improve pay equity process; Trade negotiations with India commence; NZ-EU trade deal delivers export growth; Developing a new Action Plan for unpaid carers, and Unsafe quad bike killed farmhand.
Seven 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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