Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
New Zealand: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
New Zealand is placed 23rd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 66.78 (2025); Labour Income Share 54.07 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
23rd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place New Zealand on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
66.78
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
New Zealand: 66.78. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 66.78 New Zealand
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.076
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
New Zealand: 5.076. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 4.09 Australia
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
12.57
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
New Zealand: 12.57. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Australia and New Zealand
- 9.125 Australia
02Over time
Which way New Zealand is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 60.8 in 2000 to 66.78 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 66.78 57.720 2024 67.22 57.694 2023 68.83 58.158 2022 68.59 57.688 2021 67.74 56.066 2020 66.65 55.691 2019 67.29 57.871 2018 67.45 56.911 2017 67.14 56.738 2016 65.97 56.845 2015 64.70 56.788 2014 64.60 56.774 2013 63.47 56.229 2012 62.95 56.289 2011 63.50 56.297 2010 63.11 56.212 2009 63.60 56.255 2008 65.14 57.308 2007 65.52 56.933 2006 65.13 56.685 2005 64.64 56.129 2004 63.77 55.465 2003 62.71 55.630 2002 62.56 55.843 2001 61.79 56.018 2000 60.80 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand rose from 51.2 in 2004 to 54.07 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 54.068 46.230 2024 54.752 46.060 2023 53.585 45.900 2022 52.528 45.615 2021 53.244 45.433 2020 53.056 47.267 2019 51.978 46.277 2018 51.476 46.187 2017 51.080 46.467 2016 51.639 46.798 2015 52.233 46.876 2014 52.229 47.281 2013 51.565 46.887 2012 53.091 46.231 2011 52.690 45.679 2010 53.051 46.024 2009 53.656 47.071 2008 54.616 45.312 2007 52.783 45.246 2006 52.943 45.670 2005 52.463 46.265 2004 51.201 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 6.13 in 2000 to 5.076 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 5.076 5.08 2024 4.724 5.15 2023 3.734 5.21 2022 3.299 5.34 2021 3.776 6.04 2020 4.595 6.38 2019 4.109 5.36 2018 4.335 5.35 2017 4.736 5.59 2016 5.147 5.90 2015 5.415 6.41 2014 5.428 6.58 2013 5.839 6.71 2012 6.931 6.79 2011 6.491 6.90 2010 6.557 7.04 2009 6.121 6.67 2008 4.167 5.79 2007 3.661 6.00 2006 3.857 6.50 2005 3.807 7.09 2004 4.005 6.80 2003 4.745 6.95 2002 5.282 6.91 2001 5.433 6.96 2000 6.130 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
New ZealandWorld median
New Zealand fell from 15.69 in 2000 to 12.57 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year New Zealand World median 2025 12.57 28.67 2024 12.71 29.04 2023 13.07 29.33 2022 13.24 29.67 2021 13.51 30.01 2020 13.83 30.54 2019 13.65 29.98 2018 13.84 30.15 2017 14.01 29.93 2016 14.13 29.91 2015 14.20 30.26 2014 14.24 30.47 2013 14.26 31.14 2012 14.25 31.00 2011 14.22 31.41 2010 14.19 32.37 2009 14.16 32.59 2008 14.18 31.76 2007 14.30 33.47 2006 14.54 34.27 2005 14.77 34.66 2004 15.01 35.51 2003 15.23 35.90 2002 15.41 35.96 2001 15.57 35.27 2000 15.69 35.67
03In context
New Zealand beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
New Zealand and Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australiacompare | =4th | 63.82 | 58.32 | 4.09 | 9.125 |
| New Zealand | 23rd | 66.78 | 54.07 | 5.076 | 12.57 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Australia and New Zealand
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
- Australia=4th
- New Zealand23rd
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below New Zealand in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where New Zealand is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median13
Statistics on which New Zealand does better than the middle country measured.
Low Pay RateILO · 2024 · world median 17.893.39517.89▲ Improved since 2014
New Zealand: 3.395 · world median 17.89 · Employees paid less than two-thirds of the median hourly earnings (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.395 to 41.69; lower is better.
Position 71st of 71 · derived, 1st = worst.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 01000No earlier reading
New Zealand: 100 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.910045.9No earlier reading
New Zealand: 100 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0766.0532.07No earlier reading
New Zealand: 66.05 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,230305,80725,230▲ Improved since 2010
New Zealand: 305,807 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 16th of 151 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3666.0853.36▲ Improved since 2015
New Zealand: 66.08 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 20th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6670.3561.66▲ Improved since 2015
New Zealand: 70.35 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 26th of 182 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1651.4322.16▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 51.43 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 41st of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38487,94847,384▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 87,948 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 41st of 168 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.611.11.61▲ Improved since 2015
New Zealand: 1.1 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3112.7814.31▼ Worsened since 2014
New Zealand: 12.78 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 60th of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6818.8916.68No earlier reading
New Zealand: 18.89 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 61st of 139 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1620.3119.16No earlier reading
New Zealand: 20.31 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 84th of 179 · derived.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which New Zealand does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8145.741.81No earlier reading
New Zealand: 45.7 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 78th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8314.3612.83▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 14.36 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 78th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5750.340.575No earlier reading
New Zealand: 0.34 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 98098▼ Worsened since 2015
New Zealand: 0 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.952,673657.95No real change since 2014
New Zealand: 2,673 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5174.6459.51No real change since 2015
New Zealand: 74.64 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 37th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8819.9418.88Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 19.94 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 78th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.385.41814.38Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 5.418 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 125th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8418.4131.84Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 18.41 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 125th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8933.4838.89Moved since 2015
New Zealand: 33.48 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 149th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for New Zealand
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2022), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2015), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among New Zealand’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is New Zealand’s 7th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Governance & Institutions2nd of 1944/4 keys
- Peace & Security5th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties7th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality9th of 1834/4 keys
- Energy11th of 1653/3 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 16th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour23rd of 1824/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience26th of 1934/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation29th of 1764/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade41st of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology52nd of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing53rd of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge64th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture60th of 1844/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability129th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders New Zealand can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Oceania
Australia=4th4/4 keysThis page
New Zealand23rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about New Zealand and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
New Zealand on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does New Zealand rank on work & labour?
New Zealand is placed 23rd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for New Zealand?
66.78 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for New Zealand?
54.07 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have New Zealand’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 60.8 in 2000 to 66.78 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 51.2 in 2004 to 54.07 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 6.13 in 2000 to 5.076 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 15.69 in 2000 to 12.57 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for New Zealand?
No current reading is published for New Zealand on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
New Zealand’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- New Zealand (banner) — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). New Zealand: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/new-zealand/work