New Zealand’s labour force participation rate edged up in the final quarter of 2025, rising to 70.50% from 70.30% in the third quarter of the year. The latest figures, covering the fourth quarter of 2025, were updated on 3 February 2026.
The 0.20 percentage point increase suggests a modest strengthening in labour market engagement, with a slightly higher share of the working-age population either employed or actively seeking work compared with the previous quarter. While the gain is incremental, sustained participation at or above the 70% mark underscores the resilience of New Zealand’s labour market heading into 2026.
Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent releases to assess whether this uptick signals a more durable trend in labour supply or reflects short‑term factors specific to the closing months of 2025.
