This report provides an overview of regional labour market trends over the past five years. It presents key labour market statistics for each region and examines the extent to which differences in regional labour market performance have changed. The report considers a range of regional labour market indicators; population, economic activity, labour force participation, employment, earnings and unemployment.
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of regional labour market trends for New Zealand’s regional council areas focusing primarily on the past five years. However, given the downturn in the economy over the past 18 months, trends over the past year are also examined.
Key Results
The key findings include:
Economic activity: In the five years to September 2009, growth in economic activity, as measured to the National Bank’s composite index of economic activity, has been the strongest in the West Coast averaging 1.9% per annum. Taranaki and Gisborne (both 1.8% per annum) have also experienced strong growth over the past five years. Growth has been the weakest in Northland (0.5% per annum) and the Auckland region (0.6% per annum).
Labour force participation: In the year to September 2009, Southland had the highest participation rate at 72.9%, followed by Wellington (71.2%) and Canterbury (69.8%). Northland and Bay of Plenty had the lowest participation rates at 63.6% and 65.0% respectively. Over the past five years, Southland and Manawatu-Wanganui have enjoyed the strongest growth in the participation rate.
Employment rate: In the year to September 2009, Southland had the highest employment rate with 70.6% of the working-age population in employment, followed by Wellington at 67.5%. Northland had the lowest employment rate at 58.4%, followed by Bay of Plenty at 61.1%. The largest increase in the employment rate over the past five years was in Southland followed by Manawatu-Wanganui and Wellington.
Unemployment rate: In the year to September 2009, Southland had the lowest unemployment rate (3.1%), followed by Tasman/Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast (3.4%) and Taranaki (3.5%). Northland had the highest unemployment rate at 8.3% while Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay recorded a rate of 7.8%. Taranaki and Southland have enjoyed the largest falls in the unemployment rate over the past five years.
Median weekly earnings: As at June 2009, Wellington and Auckland had the highest median weekly earnings. Over the past five years, growth in median weekly earnings has been the strongest in Otago (5.7% per annum) and Northland (5.6% per annum). Growth has been the weakest in Auckland and Waikato (both 3.2% per annum).