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Analysis

Can labour force participation keep rising?

Factory floor
Analysis

Can labour force participation keep rising?

The labour force participation rate has been consistently rising over the past 30 years in New Zealand, providing a welcome boost to the labour supply. But can participation keep rising?
Fri 21 Feb 2025Nick Brunsdon🕓 6 min
Analysis

Job losses – trust, but verify

Wellington by air - 2024
Analysis

Job losses – trust, but verify

US President Ronald Reagan is famous for repeatedly using the phrase “trust, but verify”, underscoring the importance of testing assumptions to confirm that claims are true. It’s a phrase that economists also keep in mind when dealing with a vast array of different datasets.
Wed 18 Dec 2024Brad Olsen🕓 9 min
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Analysis

Changing commuting modes driven by staying home

Gray Laptop on the Table
Analysis

Changing commuting modes driven by staying home

In recent years, technological developments (such as video conferencing) and changes in workplace culture that have enabled more of us to work from home, have done more to limit the growth in commuting by motor vehicle than any local government policies.
Thu 28 Nov 2024Rob Heyes🕓 6 min
Analysis

Where are construction workers coming from, and heading to?

Residential house framing
Analysis

Where are construction workers coming from, and heading to?

To say that 2024 has been tough on both construction workers and employers is putting it mildly. In this article we use Stats NZ’s employment stocks and flows series to understand where construction workers typically come from, and where they head after construction.
Fri 1 Nov 2024Stefan Rood🕓 4 min
Analysis

Wage growth slowing, but pockets of pay pressure remains

NZ cash notes
Analysis

Wage growth slowing, but pockets of pay pressure remains

Wages tell us a great deal about the labour market and economy. For businesses, wages reflect the price they are willing to pay for labour, and for workers, wages reflect their willingness to supply labour rather than do other activities with their time.
Thu 26 Sept 2024Stefan Rood🕓 5 min
Analysis

NZ’s changing Asian population

Japanese Lucky Coin Cat
Analysis

NZ’s changing Asian population

New Zealanders’ knowledge of Asia is at an all-time high. In Asia New Zealand Foundation's annual New Zealanders' Perceptions of Asia 2024 survey, 59% percent of respondents to the 2024 survey reported knowing ‘at least a fair amount’ about Asia, up from just 33% ten years ago. Here we look at the numbers behind the rising Asian population and workforce in New Zealand.
Thu 29 Aug 2024Rob Heyes🕓 7 min
Analysis

Migration surge follows a familiar pattern

Line of people queueing at an airport
Analysis

Migration surge follows a familiar pattern

New Zealand has experienced an immigration surge since we reopened our border to international migrants in August 2022. Here we look at how this surge has changed the make-up of workforces across New Zealand’s territorial authorities (TAs).
Wed 28 Aug 2024Rob Heyes🕓 4 min
Analysis

Another 29,000 unemployed to come, despite jobs still being created

Focused woman writing in clipboard while hiring candidate
Analysis

Another 29,000 unemployed to come, despite jobs still being created

Back in 2022, at the height of the post-lockdown boom and associated cost pressures, it was estimated that 50,000 more people would need to find themselves out of work as demand was reined in across the economy to bring inflation under control.
Thu 23 May 2024Matthew Allman🕓 4 min
Analysis

Youth unemployment rises in urban areas

Woman in red t-shirt looking at her laptop
Analysis

Youth unemployment rises in urban areas

Recessionary pressures have led to a surge in youth unemployment nationally. Last week’s StatsNZ labour market statistics showed the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%. The Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) showed total unemployment up by 33,700 people, 31% higher than a year ago.
Thu 9 May 2024Matthew Allman🕓 3 min
Analysis

Auckland dominates migrant regional destinations

Time Lapse Photography of White Commercial Airplane
Analysis

Auckland dominates migrant regional destinations

The opening of New Zealand’s borders in mid-2022 has led to an unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals. Here we look at which regions have benefitted most from this increase in the migrant labour supply.
Thu 22 Feb 2024Rob Heyes🕓 4 min