Labour market strengthens
5 February 2014
The labour market continues to grow and unemployment has fallen to 6.0 percent, Statistics New Zealand said today. There
were 24,000 more people employed in the December 2013 quarter, following an additional 28,000 in the September quarter.
Over the December 2013 year, the number of people employed rose 3.0 percent in the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS).
Demand for workers from established businesses rose 1.9 percent in the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES).
"We're seeing strength across the labour market, particularly in the industries that provide services," industry and
labour statistics manager Diane Ramsay said. "The unemployment rate has been falling and employment rising for the last
18 months, with both now at levels last seen in early 2009."
Annual wage inflation, as measured by the labour cost index (LCI) salary and ordinary time wage rates, remained steady
at 1.6 percent in the December 2013 quarter. Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the QES, rose 2.9
percent over the year – up from 2.6 percent in the September quarter.
In the December 2013 quarter:
Our labour market indicators include the HLFS, QES, and LCI. The HLFS is a broad measure of labour market activity by
individuals, while the QES measures demand by established firms for paid work and hourly earnings. The LCI is a measure
of wage inflation. Results from all three surveys are based on representative samples from across New Zealand. Explaining labour market statistics has more information on these indicators.
For more information about these statistics: Visit Quarterly Employment Survey: December 2013 quarter
ENDS