New Zealand's seasonally adjusted filled jobs were down 0.1 percent in the month of July 2024 with decreases measured across all age groups, according to data released by Stats NZ today.
Filled jobs over a three-month period to July 2024 were:
- 15 to 24-year-olds, down 10,840 jobs (3.1 percent)
- 25 to 34-year-olds, down 10,056 jobs (1.8 percent)
- 35-year-olds and over, down 7,375 jobs (0.5 percent).
Filled jobs for 15 to 24-year-olds have been decreasing on an annual basis since August 2023, and the 25 to 34-year-olds began showing annual decreases from May 2024.
"Business demand for labour has weakened over the past year and the younger age groups can be the most affected by supply and demand shifts in the labour market," business employment insights manager Sue Chapman said.
| Month | 15-24-year-olds | 25-34-year-olds | 35-year-olds and over |
| Jul-20 | -3.2 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Aug-20 | -3.7 | 2.5 | 2 |
| Sep-20 | -4.5 | 1.7 | 1.5 |
| Oct-20 | -3.7 | 1.9 | 2.1 |
| Nov-20 | -4.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Dec-20 | -2.2 | 0.6 | 1 |
| Jan-21 | -2.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| Feb-21 | -4 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Mar-21 | -2.2 | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| Apr-21 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 |
| May-21 | 3 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Jun-21 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2 |
| Jul-21 | 6.6 | 2 | 2.5 |
| Aug-21 | 8.1 | 2.2 | 2.8 |
| Sep-21 | 8 | 2.4 | 3.1 |
| Oct-21 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 2.9 |
| Nov-21 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 3.5 |
| Dec-21 | 6.9 | 2 | 2.9 |
| Jan-22 | 8 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
| Feb-22 | 7.6 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| Mar-22 | 6.5 | 0.3 | 2.4 |
| Apr-22 | 7.1 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| May-22 | 6.9 | -0.1 | 2.1 |
| Jun-22 | 6.3 | -0.4 | 2 |
| Jul-22 | 6.3 | -0.5 | 2.1 |
| Aug-22 | 6.3 | -0.8 | 2 |
| Sep-22 | 7.2 | -0.8 | 2 |
| Oct-22 | 6.9 | -0.9 | 1.9 |
| Nov-22 | 5.8 | -0.8 | 1.9 |
| Dec-22 | 3.6 | -1.3 | 1.7 |
| Jan-23 | 3.5 | 0 | 2.1 |
| Feb-23 | 4.5 | 0.7 | 3.1 |
| Mar-23 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 3.6 |
| Apr-23 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| May-23 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.9 |
| Jun-23 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| Jul-23 | 0 | 4 | 3.8 |
| Aug-23 | -1.4 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| Sep-23 | -2.3 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| Oct-23 | -2.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Nov-23 | -3.7 | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Dec-23 | -4.7 | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Jan-24 | -4.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Feb-24 | -4.4 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| Mar-24 | -4.1 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| Apr-24 | -4.8 | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| May-24 | -5.5 | 0 | 2.3 |
| Jun-24 | -6.1 | -1.3 | 1.8 |
| Jul-24 | -6.9 | -1.8 | 1.7 |
Jobs in hospitality lead declines for young workers
In July 2023, one-third of all 15 to 34-year-olds in filled jobs were in retail trade, accommodation and food services, or construction industries. While these industries were down over 18,000 filled jobs annually, the largest decreases across the 15 to 34-year-olds in the year to July 2024 were:
- accommodation and food services, down 6,841 jobs (6.7 percent)
- construction, down 6,460 jobs (7.2 percent)
- administrative and support services, down 5,806 jobs (12.7 percent).
| Industry (ANZSIC 2006) | Number |
| Health care and social assistance | 2439 |
| "Transport | 456 |
| postal and warehousing " | 244 |
| "Electricity | 68 |
| gas | 10 |
| water and waste services" | -385 |
| Mining | -430 |
| Other services | -457 |
| Arts and recreation services | -726 |
| Public administration and safety | -795 |
| "Rental | -796 |
| hiring and real estate services" | -972 |
| "Agriculture | -1143 |
| forestry and fishing" | -4435 |
| Information media and telecommunications | -4600 |
| Education and training | -4768 |
| Financial and insurance services | -5806 |
| Wholesale trade | -6460 |
| Manufacturing | -6841 |
| "Professional | |
| scientific and technical services" | |
| Retail trade | |
| Administrative and support services | |
| Construction | |
| Accommodation and food services |
Filled jobs as measured by the monthly employment indicators (MEI) are an average count of paid roles across the month collected through payroll reporting. The MEI series provides an early measure of business demand for labour indicating where the broader labour market could be heading.
Unemployment rate at 4.6 percent and Annual net migration falls cover increases in youth underutilisation and youth migrant departures respectively and may provide further insights to the changing status of youth.
